Effect of zeolite and rice husks ash on soil salinity of sandy loam soil irrigated with saline water and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill)‎

Abstract EN

A field experiment was conducted in Al-Zubair district, Al-Raha region, south of Basrah province, Iraq during agricultural season 2018, in order to determine the effect of irrigation with saline water (16 dS m-1) and three types of amendments zeolite, rice husk ash (RHA), and mixture of zeolite and rice husk ash on soil salinity and yield of the tomato plant (lycopersicon esculentum Mill), jasmine cultivar.

The amendments were added to the soil surface layer at three levels for each amendment (0, 5, and 10 ton ha-1).

Soil samples and yield were taken at the end of the growing season included electrical conductivity of the soil and total yield of tomato.

The results showed that addition of mineral and organic amendments led to a decrease electrical conductivity for sandy soil irrigated with saline water, which increased total yield of tomato.

Zeolite and zeolite mixed with rice husk ash had reduced salinity of the soil, which in turn affected the total yield of tomato plants.

The results showed that the level of 10 and 5 tons ha-1 of zeolite gave highest average to reduce soil salinity 2.12 and 4.65 dS m-1, respectively, with a percentage of a reduction 80.47 and 57.18% , respectively, for control treatment.

Results of study also showed that the zeolite at rate of 10 tons ha-1 gave the highest yield of tomato 60.76 ton ha-1 compared to control treatment, which gave an average for tomato yield 24.55 ton ha-1.