Optimal use of combined soil amendments for reclaiming and restoring salt-affected soils [electronic resource].

Includes references.

A leaching column experiment techniques was carried out to evaluate the optimal combination of gypsum, sulfuric acid, limestone, and organic compost as soil reclamation amendments for a saline-sodic soil taken from Sahl EI Tina, Egypt. After termination of leaching, the soil columns were planted with the halophyte plant, Atriplex halimus. Leaching as well as irrigation was done using EISalam canal water of 1.72 dSm-1 • All ofthe amendments, singly or in combination decreased EC, pH, SAR and ESP soil properties and increased exchangeable calcinm. Initial values being 28.8 dSm-1 , 8.40, 12.96 and 38.01 for soil EC, pH, SAR and ESP, respectively, decreased upon leaching to 5.80, 7.99, 6.05 and 12.40; then to 2.10, 7.7, 4.06 and 8.80 after harvesting, respectively, as general means. The obtained data showed that there is no one combination fitting for all soil properties of EC, pH, SAR, ESP and bulk density although using a mixture of the 4 amendments instead of one kind may be recommended. Growing the halophyte plant increased the effectiveness of amendments.

Summary in Arabic.

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