The evaluation of various soil conditioners effects on the amelioration of saline-sodic soil

Abstract

The soil salinity and sodicity collectively are the major problems in the soils of Pakistan and proved a continuous threat for the sustainability of agriculture.  A pot study was planned to ameliorate such problematic soils and for this purpose different soil conditioners were used viz. gypsum @ 39.078 g pot^-1 soil gypsum requirement, Citric acid (CA) @ 29.067 g pot^-1, H₂SO₄ @ 11.24 ml pot^-1 and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) @ 19.98 g pot^-1 and control without any amendment and wheat was grown as a test crop. The results showed that maximum decrease in pH and SAR were 8.31 and 12.04 (mmol L^-1)^1/2 by application of H₂SO₄ and citric acid respectively. Similarly H₂SO₄ and citric acid treatment show significant results related to crop growth and yield. The maximum plant height (63.33cm), number of tillers (4.63), photosynthetic rate ((2.83 µmolm^-2s^-1), transpiration rate (0.63 molm^-2s^-1), stomata conductance (0.53 molm^-2s^-1), were by application of H₂SO₄. while the results related to grain yield were as maximum grain yield by H₂SO₄ was (15.67 g) and minimum grain yield was observed with control (6.73g). Moreover the decrease in grain yield was as H₂SO₄ (9.98 g) > citric acid (8.33 g) > PVA (7.36 g) > gypsum (6.12 g) > control (5.53g). From this experiment it was concluded that H₂SO₄ showed quick impact on soil physicochemical properties and growth parameters but gypsum and citric acid were long term and sustainable source to reclaim and to make saline-sodic soils more productive as compare to other soil conditioners.

Keywords: soil conditioners, amelioration, saline-sodic soil