Application of Organic Amendments to a Coastal Saline Soil in North China: Effects on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties and Tree Growth

Abstract

The ability of the following four organic amendments to ameliorate saline soil in coastal northern China was investigated from April 2010 to October 2012 in a field experiment: green waste compost (GWC), sedge peat (SP), furfural residue (FR), and a mixture of GWC, SP and FR (1∶1∶1 by volume) (GSF). Compared to a non-amended control (CK), the amendments, which were applied at 4.5 kg organic matter m−3, dramatically promoted plant growth; improved soil structure; increased the cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic carbon, and available nutrients; and reduced the salt content, electrical conductivity (EC), and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP). At the end of the experiment in soil amended with GSF, bulk density, EC, and ESP had decreased by 11, 87, and 71%, respectively, and total porosity and organic carbon had increased by 25 and 96% respectively, relative to the CK. The GSF treatment resulted in a significantly lower Na++K+ content than the other treatments. CEC and the contents of available N, P, and K were significantly higher in the GSF-treated soil than in the CK and were the highest in all treatments. The FR treatment resulted in the lowest pH value and Ca2+ concentration, which decreased by 8% and 39%, respectively, relative to the CK. Overall, the results indicate that a combination of green waste compost, sedge peat and furfural residue (GSF treatment) has substantial potential for ameliorating saline soils in the coastal areas of northern China, and it works better than each amendment alone. Utilization of GWC and FR can be an alternative organic amendment to substitute the nonrenewable SP in saline soil amelioration.

Sewage Sludge Amendment Combined with Green Manuring to a Coastal Mudflat Salt-Soil in Eastern China: Effects on Soil Physicochemical Properties and Maize Yield

“…Salt-affected soils are found in many parts of the world, and about 20% of the world's cultivated land is salt-affected [1]. In the east of China, there were approximately 1.1∼1.2 million ha saltsoil reclaimed from coastal mudflats in the past five decades [2,3].…”

Application of Nejayote as a Foliar and Edaphic Fertiliser to Native Blue Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) Crops

“…After the application of the edaphic treatments NC50, NC75, and NC100, the electric conductivity showed a considerable decrease, with values below the threshold indicated by Cramer (1994) [55]. According to Wang et al (2014) [56], both calcium and the OM are effective for reducing soil salinity, which may explain the results obtained in terms of electric conductivity. Notably, an increase of the edaphic electric conductivity above 1.7 dS•m −1 negatively affects total soil porosity, bulk density, and structural stability [57], thus preventing growth of maize plants [55].…”

Identification and Chemical Characteristics of Distinctive Chinese Outflow Plumes Associated with Enhanced Submicron Aerosols at the Gosan Climate Observatory

“…Recently, alkaline soil was recognized as a source of fine dust particles in northeastern China, where dry lake deposits are spread over semi-desert regions (Li and Zhang, 2013). In northeastern China, concentrations of salt species including Cl -and Na + have increased due to the increase of saline land area and wind speed (Chen et al, 2009;Wang et al, 2014). Under prefrontal conditions, these saline soils are remobilized by strong winds and transported to the Korean peninsula, elevating salt contents in PM 1.0 as well as PM 10 (Park et al, 2011).…”