Anthropogenic impact of leaching on gypsiferous soils [electronic resource].

Includes references.

A pot experiment had been conducted in the greenhouse of the National Research Centre in order to investigate the suitability of gypsiferous soils for plant growth. The selected soils, for this experiment, were different in their soil characteristics specially gypsum, calcium carbonate and soluble salts contents. The experiment design comprised control and leaching treatments. Maize and barley were the crop indicators and the germination percentages as well as dry weight of the harvested plants were the measurable parameters of the current study. The obtained results showed that the leaching of gypsiferous soils improved their chemical characteristics. The maize germination percentages of the control treatment varied between 43 and 90%, while they ranged between 70 and 98% for the soils which were under the leaching treatment. However, barley germination percentages ranged between 50 aItd 93% for control treatment and between 70 and 100% for the leaching treatment. The current study revealed clearly that the influence of the soluble salts that associate with gypsum in most of the gypsiferous soils is remarkable on the plant growth. Moreover, the obtained results could indicate that the continuous cultivation of the soil would lead to improve its physicochemical properties.

Summary in Arabic.

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