Feasibility of tile drainage, gypsum applications and deep ploughing to improve soil properties and production at north of El-Fayoum depression[Egypt]

Abstract: Subsurface tile drains were installed at a farm of 15 feddan, situated at Senores district, El-Fayoum depression. This area had gone out of cultivation due to the problems of waterlogging and salinity. This work was conducted to study the feasibility of installing tile drainage at farm level and using gypsum and deep ploughing to improve soil properties and productivity. The drainage pipes were laid at a depth of 1.25m from ground surface and 35m between drain spaces. The experiment was laid in a completely randomized design with four replicates; the plots were treated with four treatments as follows: plots without treatments (T1), applying a full gypsum requirement for the upper 15 cm soil (T2), deep ploughing up to 50 cm depth (T3) and gypsum applications combined with deep ploughing (T4). On the other hand, time as a limit factor in soil reclamation was taken into account, where all the studied measurement were periodically determined at zero time (initial) 3, 6, 9 and 12 month of the experimental start time.
The application of full gypsum requirements and deep ploughing process as a secondary tool plays an important role in accelerating the improvement rates in soil hydro-physical and chemical characteristics.
The highest average values of water table draw down and drainage intensity factors "a" were observed under gypsum combined with deep ploughing (T4). Benefits claimed include increased infiltration rate, enhanced quickly drainable pores and decreased soil bulk density. Chemically, soil salinity and alkalinity values were reduced below the save limits (ECe less than 4 dS/m and ESP less than 15).
The beneficial effect of the primarily and secondly drainage treatments is remarkable and is reflected in soil productivity. The maximum yield of corn and wheat were produced under the combination of the gypsum application and deep ploughing. These studies show the feasibility of tile drainage associated by gypsum and deep ploughing effectiveness to maximize crop productivity at El-Fayoum problematic soils.
Publication year 2004
Availability location Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, ARC, 9 Cairo Univ. St., Giza, Egypt
Availability number
Organization Name
Country Egypt
City القاهرة
serial title Egyptian Journal of Soil Sciences
ISSN 0302-6701
Volume 44 . 4
Department Field Drainage Research
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories DrainageFertilizing
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Egypt. Gypsum. Ploughing. Productivity. Soil chemicophysical properties. Soil improvement. Subsurface drainage. Triticum aestivum. Zea mays.
Publication Type Journal
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