Reduction of salinity and sodicity of saline-sodic soils under filed condition in Brazilian semi-arid region

Abstract

The salinization process in irrigated areas in the semi-arid region of Brazil, constantly cause economic, social, and environmental problems. Therefore, the present research aimed at assessing the effect of different amounts of agricultural gypsum and cow manure associated with an artificial drainage system and salt leaching due to the application of amount of water in a saline-sodic soil under field condition. The experiment was carried out at the irrigated perimeter of Jacaré-Curituba, Poço Redondo, with an experimental design split into plots made of doses of gypsum corresponding to 0,0; 4,300.00 and 8,600.00 kg.ha-1 combined with and without organic matter, cow manure with 25,000.00 kg.ha-1 and 0.00 kg.ha-1. Each treatment (six in total) was repeated four times. Thus, 24 plots of 50 m2 were monitored (split plot) with an area of 1.200 m2. All treatments had an artificial drainage system in the center of the plot and the same amount of leach water was then added. The outcomes allowed us to understand that all treatments had the salinity and sodicity soil values reduced at the studied site. Moreover, the treatments with cow manure (source of organic matter) presented the best results, because soil electrical conductivity values (< 4 dS m-1) reached the normal level to agricultural yield.

Pearl millet cultivation with brackish water and organic fertilizer alters soil properties

“…Despite high levels of soluble salts in water resources in semi-arid regions, in the absence of other sources, brackish and saline water represent the only alternative to be used by farmers both for irrigation and for watering herds (3) . Soils in the semi-arid region contain high level of sodium, favoring sodium solubilization in groundwater (4) . However, the use of brackish water promotes changes in the soil physical-mechanical and chemical properties.…”

“…This practice mitigates the effect of soil salinity, through the production of humic acids and organic acids, promoting an increase in carbonate solubilization (9,10,11) , providing a delay in the effect of adding salts to the soil by irrigation and leaching of these salts during the rainy season in semi-arid regions (12) . According to Silva et al (13) , organic fertilizer incorporated into the soil improves the physical structure, reducing the soil mass, which favors soil porosity and electrical conductivity. Furthermore, organic fertilization attenuates the harmful effects of salts in the plant root environment.…”