Sodic Calcareous Soil Reclamation as Affected by Different Amendments and Crops

Robbins, C.W. (1986) Sodic Calcareous Soil Reclamation as Affected by Different Amendments and Crops. Agronomy Journal. 78(5):916-920.

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Abstract

Sodium leaching efficiencies (moles of Na removed per unit leachate
volume) were measured and compared from four noncropped and
four cropped treatments applied in duplicate to 1.0 m deep sodic
calcareous silt loam in lysimeters. Treatments included a check, gypsum,
chopped alfalfa (Medicago saliva L), fresh manure, alfalfa,
sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), sudan grass (Sorghum sudanese) hybrid
(which will be called sorghum hybrid for simplicity), sorghum hybrid
+ leaching, and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L). The sorghum hybrid
+ leaching treatment soil was leached with tap water until 0.5
pore volume of leachate was collected from lysimeter bottoms, and
then sorghum hybrid was planted. Sorghum hybrid was the most
efficient treatment in reclaiming Na-affected soil. All four noncropped
soils eventually became dispersed in the lower part of the
profile and hydraulic conductivity became very low. Cropped treatments
continued to conduct water at a satisfactory rate for reclamation;
however, due to low water use, cotton treatment produced a
low total Na removal. Sorghum hybrid shows promise as a crop that
could be used to speed reclamation of sodic calcareous soils. The
treatments producing the highest sodium removal efficiencies also
produced the highest soil atmosphere CO2 concentrations. By selecting
crops, amendments, and water application rates and timing,
calcareous sodic soil reclamation can very likely be accomplished
faster and more economically than in the past.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0584
Subjects:	Soil > Amendments Soil > Calcareous soil Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:52
Last Modified:	13 Jan 2017 19:53
Item ID:	465
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/465