Effect of amendments followed by saline water on properties and productivity of a highly alkali soils

Abstract: Sodicity is likely a more important problem to mange in the areas prolonged to the north coast of Nile Delta, Egypt. However, a field experiment was conducted at El-Riad province close to El-Burouls lake, Kafr El-Shiekh governorate. The main target of this work is to evaluate the effect of amendments viz. gypsum (50% of gypsum requirements), lime (10.2 t/fed., equivalent to gypsum), farmyard manure (FYM) 20 m3/fed.), gypsum+FYM, FYM+lime and a control with saline (ECiw 4 dS/m) and non-saline (0.82 dS/m) irrigation water on some soil properties and yields of rice and wheat in a highly alkali soil (pH >8.5 and ESP 80).
Application of amendments enhanced the yield of both crops significantly irrespective of the quality of irrigation water used. The soil and crop improvement followed the order: gypsum+FYM > lime+FYM > gypsum > lime > FYM > control. The reused drainage water (saline water) resulted in significantly higher yield of both crops as compared to non-saline water. Decrease in soil pH and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) and increase in Ca+Mg and infiltration rate values were more after rice than wheat crop in rotation, particularly, when non-saline water was used.
This study reveals to the magnitude of reused drainage water as a resource to meet crop water demands applied for supplemental irrigation as well as to accelerate the improvement process in a highly alkali soil and maximizing its productivity.

Publication year

2005

Pages

ص258-268

Organization Name

Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI)

Country

Egypt

City

Zagazig

Publisher

Name: The Egyptian Society of Applied Sciences