Lysimeter experiments were conducted with sandy-clay-loam soil to study the efficiency of two amendments in reclaiming saline-sodic soil using moderately saline and SAR (sodium-adsorption ratio) irrigation water. Gypsum obtained from industrial phosphate by-products and reagent grade Ca chloride were applied to packed soil columns and irrigated with moderately saline (ECe = 2.16 dS m -1 ), moderate-SAR water (SAR = 4.8). Gypsum was mixed with soil prior to irrigation at application rates of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 32 Mg ha -1 , and Ca chloride was dissolved directly in leaching water at application rates of 4. 25, 8.5, 12.75, 17.0, and 21.25 Mg ha -1 , respectively. The highest application rate in both amendments resulted in 96% reduction of total Na in soil. The hydraulic conductivity (HC) of soils receiving gypsum increased in all treatments. The highest HC value of 6.8 mm h -1 was obtained in the highest application rate (32 Mg ha -1 ), whereas the lowest value of 5.2 mm h -1 was observed with the control treatment. Both amendments were efficient in reducing soil salinity and sodicity (exchangeable-sodium percentage, ESP); however, Ca chloride was more effective than gypsum as a reclaiming material. Exchangeable Na and soluble salts were reduced with gypsum application by 82% and 96%, and by 86% and 93% with Ca chloride application, respectively. Exchangeable Ca increased with increasing amendment rate. Results of this study revealed that sodium was removed during cation-exchange reactions mostly when the SAR of effluent water was at maximum with subsequent passage of 3 to 4 pore volumes. Gypsum efficiently reduced soil ESP, soil EC, leaching water, and costs, therefore, an application rate of 20 Mg ha -1 of gypsum with 3 to 4 pore volumes of leaching water is recommended for reclaiming the studied soil.

The efficiency of two amendments in reclaiming saline sodic soil using moderately saline (EC) and moderate sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) canal water was investigated. Phosphogypsum (PG) and reagent grade calcium chloride were applied to packed sandy loam soil columns and leached with canal water (SAR = 4, and EC = 2.16 dS m-1). Phosphogypsum was mixed with top soil prior to leaching at application rates