Remediation of salt-affected soil by the addition of organic matter: an investigation into improving glutinous rice productivity

Abstract

Soil salinity may limit plant growth and development, and cause yield loss in crop species. This study aimed at remediating saline soil using organic matter (OM) treatment, before the cultivation of RD6 rice (Oryza sativa L. spp. indica). Physiological and morphological characters of rice plants, as well as crop yield, were evaluated from salt-affected soil with varying levels of salinity. The chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll pigments of rice plants grown in salt-affected soil (2% salt level) with the application of OM were maintained better than in plants grown without OM treatment. The degree of reduced photosynthetic pigments in rice plants was dependent on the level of salt contamination. Pigment content was positively related to maximum quantum yield of PSII (F v /F m ) and quantum efficiency of PSII (Φ PSII ), leading to reduced net photosynthetic rate (P n ) and reduced total grain weight (TGW). Photosynthetic abilities, including chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll pigments and Φ PSII , in rice plants grown with OM treatment were greater than in those cultivated in soil without the OM treatment, especially in high salt levels (1-2% salt). The remediation of salt-affected soil in paddy fields using OM should be applied further, as an effective way of enhancing food crop productivity.

Remediation of salt and boron-affected soil by addition of organic matter: an investigation into improving tomato plant productivity

“…The most serious cause of yield reduction in crops grown in saline paddy fields that have not undergone remediation are the subsequent effects of toxic ion accumulation in the plant cell, which causes pigment reduction, diminishes chlorophyll a and lowers A (Cha-um and Kirdmanee, 2011). However, in the present study A was effectively alleviated with 6% OM in soil in treatments with excess of B and with salt alone (Figure 1), similar to the control plants.…”

“…In Hordeum maritimum and rice cv. RD6 total chlorophyll pigment levels were also maintained better with the application of OM (Lakhdar et al, 2008;Cha-um and Kirdmanee, 2011). Organic matter may contain salt ion-binding agents which detoxify the toxic ions, especially Na + and Cl -, as indicated by low EC in treated soil (Tejada et al, 2006;Zahid and Niazi, 2006).…”

“…The decaying organic matter increases soil CO 2 concentration, releases H + , enhances CaCO 3 dissolution and liberates more calcium for sodium exchange (Ghaffor et al, 2008). Therefore the application of OM for soil remediation is important for sustainable land use and crop productivity (Wong et al, 2009;Cha-um and Kirdmanee, 2011). Boron uptake by plants is controlled by the B level in soil solution rather than the total B content in soil.…”

Growth indexes, production and tolerance of peanut irrigated with saline water and bovine biofertilizer

“…In the case of bean seeds, Neves et al (2008) observed that irrigation with saline water (ECw 5.0 dS m -1 ) started after germination and until the end of the bean cycle it did not influence the weight of 100 seeds. This increase in weight of 100 seeds and seed mass can be attributed to the beneficial action of bovine biofertilizer, as the organic feedstock operates in the physical improvement of the soil for root growth systems, as discussed by Mgbeze and Abu (2010) and Benbouali et al (2013) and also to improve soil biological activity (Cha-Um and Kirdmanee, 2011).…”

Saline water and organic matter in the development and quality of Licania rigida Benth. seedlings

“…In this sense, according to Cha-um and Kirdmanee (2011), the organic compost from castor beans in soils degraded by salts stimulates growth, biomass production and physiological efficiency of plants in saline environments. Changes in metabolism induced by salinity are the result of plants' physiological responses such as: Stimulus to growth, photosynthetic capacity, and accumulation of chlorophyll .…”