Effect of Gypsum, Sulfuric Acid, Nano-Zeolite Application on Saline-Sodic Soil Properties and Wheat Productivity under Different Tillage Types

Kheir, A.; Shabana, M.; Seleiman, M.

doi:10.21608/jssae.2018.36552

Effect of Gypsum, Sulfuric Acid, Nano-Zeolite Application on Saline-Sodic Soil Properties and Wheat Productivity under Different Tillage Types

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, 12112, Giza, Egypt

² Department of Crop Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University, 32514, Shibin El-kom, Egypt

10.21608/jssae.2018.36552

Abstract

Soil degradation due to soil salinity and sodicity is considered a serious concern in arid and semiarid ecosystems. Due to arid climate even, normal soils are converted to saline-sodic soils. Recently, reduced tillage proved successfully increasing soil organic matter contributing to soil carbon sequestration leading to improvements in soil physical and chemical properties. However, exploring effect of reduced tillage in saline sodic soils, even under amendments application has less attention so far. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the combined effects of inorganic soil amendments (Nano zeolite, sulphuric acid and gypsum) and tillage systems (reduced and deep tillage) on saline-sodic soil physical and chemical properties and wheat productivity. Deep tillage with sulphuric acid application significantly reduced soil electrical conductivity (EC), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), penetration resistance (PR) and bulk density (Bd) and increased soil hydraulic conductivity (HC), mean weight diameter (MWD) and aggregation index (AI) compared to control. Deep tillage showed a significant improvement of saline-sodic soils, despite increasing SOC with reduced tillage. Moreover, sulphuric acid, gypsum and Nano-zeolite applications with deep tillage increased wheat grain yield significantly compared to control. Nano-zeolite application gave the superiority in increasing soil organic carbon compared with sulphuric and gypsum, enhancing wheat productivity to be close to yield under gypsum application without significant differences. Nevertheless, application of Nano-zeolite in improving saline sodic soils not preferable economically compared with sulphuric acid and gypsum. In conclusion, sulphuric acid, gypsum applications in combination with deep tillage improved physical and chemical properties of saline-sodic soils, and consequently enhanced growth and yield of wheat, confirming the importance of deep tillage in reclaiming saline-sodic soils compared with reduced tillage.

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