The consequences of saline irrigation treatments on soil physicochemical characteristics

Abstract

When saline water is used to irrigate crops in arid environments, appropriate irrigation management should be applied to avoid negatively impacting soil characteristics. In this study, the effects of irrigating date palms with saline water (2.24 g l −1 ) on soil physicochemical characteristics such as the electrical conductivity (EC e ), the pH of the saturated soil paste (pH e ), the concentrations of soluble cations (Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + ), the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), the saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (K s ), and the volumetric water content of the soil (θ v ) were evaluated in a Tunisian Saharan cropland, the Dergine Oasis, during a 4-year period (2012)(2013)(2014)(2015). The effects of three different irrigation treatments of date palms on soil properties were investigated: low treatment (90% of the net irrigation requirement (NIR) of date palms was applied); medium treatment (100% of NIR was applied), and high treatment (110% of NIR was applied). The results showed that the application of saline water for irrigation inevitably has a negative impact on the physicochemical properties of the soil. Irrigation with saline water was observed to have severe negative impacts on the soil characteristics, especially EC e , Na + , K s , and θ v . However, among the three irrigation treatments applied, statistical analysis (Duncan's multiple range test) indicated that the high treatment significantly (p < 0.05) minimized the degradation of soil characteristics by the saline water; this treatment decreased EC e , Na + , and SAR and increased the water content, θ v , of the studied soil.

Effects of organic amendments on soil properties and growth characteristics of Melon (Cucumis melo L.) under saline irrigation

“…Meanwhile, the season of 2018 showed higher pH values compared to 2017. Generally, saline irrigation increased the pH of soils [30] . Using saline water increased the Na + values, this increase might become significant in 2018, so the time factor played an important role in increasing soil Na + [14] .…”

Current available treatment technologies for saline wastewater and land‐based treatment as an emerging environment‐friendly technology: A review

“…It further causes thin crust at the soil's surface resulting in water infiltration, which further leads to reduced soil productivity and reduced crop yields (Shahid et al, 2018a; Srivastava, 2020). One such study conducted by Haj‐Amor et al (2018) in the Saharan oasis showed that soils irrigated with saline wastewater showed a high risk of soil quality degradation because of very high values of ECs, sodium absorption rate (SAR), and soil hydraulic conductivity. Therefore, sustainable agriculture and soil fertility management require appropriate and skilled management and treatment of saline wastewater prior to application to alleviate such problems.…”

“…Therefore, sustainable agriculture and soil fertility management require appropriate and skilled management and treatment of saline wastewater prior to application to alleviate such problems. Moreover, understanding the process of soil degradation in response to saline wastewater application is equally crucial (Haj‐Amor et al, 2018).…”

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

“…However, the use of brackish water promotes changes in the soil physical-mechanical and chemical properties. Brackish water can act in the dispersion of soil clays, resulting in pore clogging due to excess sodium, which provides an increase in soil compaction, reducing water infiltration (5,6) . In addition, the excess of salt ions impairs growth, respiration, root expansion, in addition to water uptake and CO 2 fixation by the plant (7) .…”