Remediation of a Highly Calcareous Saline Sodic Soil Using Some Soil Amendments

Abstract

Amelioration of saline and sodic soil by organic and inorganic amendments can be improved the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. A laboratory experiment using soil columns was conducted to evaluate the effect of different amendments on some physical and chemical properties of a highly calcareous saline sodic soil (pH= 8.3, ECe= 55 dS/m, CaCO3= 26.12% and ESP=27.5%). The studied soil was treated with three amendments, viz pressmud, gypsum by-product and phosphoric acid. Pressmud (PM) was applied at rates of 0, 7.5 and 15% per kg soil whereas, gypsum by- product (G) was mixed with the upper 5 cm of the soil surface and applied to the soils at rates of 0, 2.5 and 5 g/kg. Phosphoric acid 50% (PA) was mixed with irrigation water at 0, 125 and 250 kg/fed application rates. Untreated soil was used as a control (CTRL). All treatments were replicated three times. After incubation period, leaching process was used for six months. At the ending of the experiment, the soil samples were taken from all soil columns and analyzed for some physical and chemical properties. The obtained results showed that, soil pH, ECe and ESP were decreased in all amendments either, single or in combination compared with CTRL. Soluble Na concentration was reduced, while soluble Ca and Mg were increased when addition of all amendments compared with CTRL. Moreover, data revealed that the bulk density and wilting point were decreased, while field capacity and available water were increased in all amendments compared to CTRL. Our study suggests that the combination of PM1+G1+PA1 effectively reclaimed a highly calcareous saline-sodic soil than all other treatments.