Improvement of degraded physical properties of a saline-sodic soil by reclamation with kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca)

Agricultural Water Management

et al. 2016

a b s t r a c tThe aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of soil types and properties on coastal saline soil reclamation and the response of plant growth to the reclamation processes in two soils. Two very heavy coastal saline soils were reclaimed in a three-year trial using drip irrigation with saline water. Chinese roses (Rosa chinensis) were planted, and soil indexes, growth characters, ion absorption and dry matter production were determined. Our results showed that significant salt leaching occurred in both soils, and the effect during the early period of reclamation was better in sandy loam than silt soil. There were higher emergence and survival rates of plants in sandy loam soil due to the rapid reclamation process, while plant growth and dry mass were greater in silt soil due to good fertilizer and water conservation. Most roots were present in the 0-20-cm profile in both soils, but the fine root length value in silt soil was relatively high. These results indicate that water and nutrient management differed in the two soils. During soil reclamation, more attention should be paid to nutrient supply and maintaining soil moisture in sandy loam and to rapidly establishing suitable soil root-zone environments for plant emergence in silt soil.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of a salt-sensitive plant to processes of soil reclamation in two saline–sodic, coastal soils using drip irrigation with saline water

Agricultural Water Management

et al. 2016

“…Salinization and sodifacation of soils and ground waters may lead to serious ecological and environment problems in arid and semi-arid climates and is increasing steadily in many parts of the world (Akhter et al, 2004;Yu et al, 2010). Coastal regions face many of the same problems as lands in agricultural districts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The accumulation of excess sodium (Na + ) in soil may cause numerous adverse phenomena, such as changes in exchangeable and soil solution ions and soil pH, destabilization of soil structure, deterioration of soil hydraulic properties, increased susceptibility to crusting, and imbalances of plant-available nutrients in the soil (Akhter et al, 2004;Khoshgoftarmanesh et al, 2003;Prichard et al, 1985;Qadir and Schubert, 2002). Saline-sodic soils can slake, disperse and swell under specific conditions when wet with rain or irrigation water: This can decrease soil water and air movement, plant-available water, root penetration, seeding growth and plant establishment, and can increase runoff, ponding, water-logging and erosion, and impedes seed bed preparation (Akhter et al, 2004;Oster et al, 1999;Sumner, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First and second-year assessments of the rapid reconstruction and re-vegetation method for reclaiming two saline–sodic, coastal soils with drip-irrigation

et al. 2015

Ecological Engineering

a b s t r a c tSoil salinity, sodicity and saline groundwater are major constraints to the cultivation of landscape plants along oceanic coasts. A sustainable approach for reclaiming saline-sodic soils in coastal environments is evaluated. Soil tillage, phased saline water management based on soil matric potential under dripirrigation, and the installation of a gravel-sand layer were used. Field trials using the method showed that the proposed approach had the advantages of considerable water conservation, more effective salt leaching and successful re-vegetation with desired species. Severely saline soils became non-saline within the 0-40 cm soil profile after one year and non-saline to moderately saline within the 0-120 cm depth after two years. The approach can rather quickly create an attractive landscape and maintain good plant growth. Plants representing nearly 30 landscape species, including some sensitive to salinity were proposed. Plantings showed survival up to 90% after one and two years. This approach demands less water, improves the ecological environments, and will inspire development of coastal areas.

“…For example, the mean electrical conductivity of saturated paste extracts (EC e ) is up to 66.7 dS/m in Tianjin coastal soils (Sun et al, 2013) and 28 dS/m in our study area in China -with the salt composition mainly chlorides, in which chloride and sodium (Na + ) account for 60-88% of the anion and cation concentrations, respectively. Accumulation of excess Na + in soil causes numerous adverse phenomena, such as changes in exchangeable and soil solution ions and soil pH, destabilization of soil structure, deterioration of soil hydraulic properties, increased susceptibility to crusting and imbalances of plant-available nutrients in the soils (Akhter et al, 2004;Khoshgoftarmanesh et al, 2003;Prichard et al, 1985;Qadir et al, 2005). Saline-sodic soils can slake, disperse and swell under specific conditions when wet with rain or irrigation water; this decreases water and air movement, plant-available water, root penetration, seedling growth and plant establishment; increases runoff, ponding, water-logging and erosion; and impedes seed bed preparation (Akhter et al, 2004;Oster et al, 1999;Sumner, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of drip-irrigation with saline water on Chinese rose (Rosa chinensis) during reclamation of very heavy coastal saline soil in a field trial

et al. 2015

Scientia Horticulturae

a b s t r a c tDrip-irrigation with saline water was used for reclamation of very heavy coastal saline soils and its effects on salt-sensitive plants were also evaluated in a three-year trial in the coastal region of east China. The original soil salinity expressed as electrical conductivity of the saturation paste extract (EC e ) was an average of 27.13 dS/m in the 0-100 cm depth. The experiment included five treatments of salinity levels of 0.8, 3.1, 4.7, 6.3 and 7.8 dS/m of irrigation water. Chinese rose (Rosa chinensis), a salt-sensitive species, were planted in the sandy loam soil to determine the effect of saline environment on growth characters and dry matter production. Drip-irrigation had a significant positive impact on salt leaching, and the very highly saline soil became mildly saline after reclamation in root zone of soil profiles irrigated with water of salinity up to 7.8 dS/m. An increase in salinity of irrigation water had adverse effects on plant height, stem diameter, survival rate and dry matter production. Root:shoot ratio increased with increasing water salinity. The values of soil-salt tolerance threshold were 2.39 dS/m at emergence and 2.78 dS/m in the growth period after emergence. The emergence rate and dry mass decreased by 27.39 and 41.19% for each unit of EC e increase in the root zone, respectively. These results implied that drip-irrigation with saline water by controlling soil matric potential under a gravel-sand layer was effective in reclamation of this very heavy coastal saline soil for sensitive species such as Chinese rose.