Growth and nutrient concentrations of maize in pressmud treated saline-sodic soils
n open-air pot experiment was conducted to investigate effects of pressmud (PM) on saline-sodic soil reclamation, mitigating the adverse effects of saline irrigation and increase of maize (Zea mays L.) growth. Pressmud was added at the rate of 0, 5, 10 and 20 Mg ha-1 to pots containing 6.8 kg air...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Soil Science Society of Pakistan (SSSP)
2009-05-01
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| Series: | Soil & Environment |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://se.org.pk/File-Download.aspx?archivedpaperid=114 |
| Summary: | n open-air pot experiment was conducted to investigate effects of pressmud (PM) on saline-sodic soil
reclamation, mitigating the adverse effects of saline irrigation and increase of maize (Zea mays L.) growth.
Pressmud was added at the rate of 0, 5, 10 and 20 Mg ha-1 to pots containing 6.8 kg air dried surface (0-20 cm) soil
collected from two sites. The increasing levels of PM enhanced maize plant height, shoots and roots biomass in both
soils. However, the Soil 2, with initial EC and SAR of 5.43 dS m-1 and 18.67(m mol L-1)1/2, respectively, produced
comparatively more biomass at all PM levels than Soil 1 [silty-clay loam, EC = 6.22 dS m-1, SAR = 20.72 (m mol L-
1
)1/2]. The [P] in shoots was maximum at the highest PM in both the soils but the [K] increased with PM levels in
Soil 1 and decreased in Soil 2 due to the dilution effect. The Soil 1 maintained several folds more [Na] in shoots and
consequently lower K:Na ratio than Soil 2. The post harvest soil pH, Na, Ca+Mg and SAR in saturation extracts
decreased with increasing levels of PM as compared to control. Soil 2 released more volume of leachate as
compared to Soil 1 but the leachate EC and [Na] were comparable while [Ca+Mg] were relatively higher in Soil 2.
The higher removal of total salts from Soil 2 resulted in lower soil pH, EC and SAR in this soil as compared to Soil
1. The increases in crop growth with each increment of PM up to 20 Mg ha-1 in the present study proved the
benefits of PM in increasing crop yields and suggested that doses higher than 20 Mg PM ha-1 could be applied to
the saline-sodic soils ofthe area to get maximum possible crop yields depending on soil and water quality |
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| ISSN: | 2074-9546 2075-1141 |