Effect of soil amendments on some physical and chemical properties of some soils of Egypt under saline irrigation water.

Abstract

A lysimeter experiment was carried out to study the effect of some soil amendments and saline irrigation water on some physical and chemical properties of some soils of Egypt . Three soil types, calcareous; alluvial and sandy were used and treated with three soil amendments, composted town refuse; sewage sludge and elemental sulphur. These soils were cultivated with alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and irrigated with diluted sea water having 2000, 4000 and 6000 ppm, as well as fresh water as control treatment for ten months. At the end of the experiment undisturbed and disturbed soil samples were taken from each treatment at the depths of (030 cm.) and (30-60 cm.). The results showed that the application of soil amendments significantly decreased the soil bulk density and the modulus of rupture, in each of the surface and subsurface soils, while, salinity of irrigation water upto 6000 ppm, increased them. Saturated hydraulic conductivity of surface and subsurface soils was significantly decreased with different salinity levels of irrigation water. Application of soil amendments decreased each of ECe, SAR, ESP and the swelling factor, while these parameters were increased with increasing salinity levels in the irrigation water. The application of soil amendments and salinity in the irrigation water increased the availability of NPK in the different soils.