The feasibility of using microbial, organic and mineral amendments for ameliorating a saline-sodic soil and their implications on the productivity of sugar beet and rice grown thereon

الملخص EN

The current study aims at evaluating the feasibility of amending a saline-sodic soil of (EC = 12.38 dSm-1, ESP = 23.38 and CaCO3 content = 25.44 g kg-1 ) with microbial amendment (Azolla + Cyanobacteria extract 1:1), organic amendment (compost) and mineral amendments (elemental sulfur, dilute H2SO4, dilute H3PO4, phosphogypsum, and aluminum sulfate) either solely or in combinations to ameliorate such a soil.

This investigation was carried out under the field conditions at El-Rowad village, South of El-Hosainiya Plain, North East of the Nile Delta, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt for two successive seasons i.e a winter season (of 2015 - and 2016) under sugar beet and the summer season of (2016) under rice crop.

The investigated soil was irrigated with a low-quality water (EC, 1.58±0.06 and SAR, 7.51±0.13).

Azolla and Cyanobacteria extract (1:1)was used at a rate of50L ha-1.

Compost was used at a rate of 9.02 Mg ha-1 before growing sugar beet only.

Applications of sulfuric and phosphoric acids were carried out through irrigation water.

Results revealed that the studied microbial, organic and mineral amendments significantly decreased soil EC and ESP during both seasons of study, and furthermore significantly improved the yields of both sugar beet (root and foliage) and rice (grains and straw).

The interactions between these treatments were also of significant effect, however, the interaction among.

“sulfur + compost + microbial inoculation with Azolla and Cyanobacteria extract” was the most efficient one for improving the chemical characteristics of the soil (EC and ESP) as well as the yield of plants grown thereon.

Where the soil EC decreased to 7.88±1.22 dSm-1 while the ESP values reached 7.36±0.25.

Root and foliage yields of sugar beet were 13.38 and 5.13 Mg ha-1, respectively on the dry weight basis whereas the grain and straw yields of rice were 7.24 and 14.34 Mg ha-1 respectively.

Accordingly, the triple applications of sulfur + compost + microbial inoculation with Azolla and Cyanobacteria extract are recommended to ameliorate the saline-sodic soil on one hand and to attain better crop yield on the other one.