Antar A. S.; G. M. A. El-Sanat and H. A. Khafagi ( 2014). Improving heavy clay salt affected soil and its production using some amendments application in north delta.J, of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering. Mansoura Univ. Vol. 5 (12): 1717-1730
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted through winter season 2013/2014 and summer season 2014 at North Delta, Egypt (Al-Hamool District, Kafr El-Shiekh Governorate), to evaluate the effect of subsoiling types (one and two directions) and gypsum application rates (1.5 and 3 ton fed.-1) on improving some soil physio-chemical properties and yields of sugar beet and rice crops. Subsoiling and gypsum application were reduced salinity and sodcity of the soil. The reduction of salinity, after two seasons from application are 38.58, 41.06, 42.50 and 43.58 %, for subsoiling one direction + 1.5 ton G.fed.-1, two directions + 1.5 ton G.fed.-1, one direction + 3 ton G.fed.-1 and two directions + 3 tonG.fed.-1, respectively than before treatments application. The corresponding values of ESP are 29.40, 33.44, 34.26 and 38.77 %, respectively. Subsoiling two directions and high gypsum rate are superior to one direction and low gypsum rate in reducing soil salinity and sodcity. Subsoiling and gypsum application caused increasing Ca++/TSS and decreasing Na+/TSS ratios in the topsoil up to 45cm especially under high rate of gypsum. Subsoiling and gypsum application were reduced moisture content, bulk density and penetration resistance of the soil than before, especially subsoiling two directions. Basic infiltration rates before treatments application was low (0.66 cm/hr) and higher after application (varied from 0.81 to 1.89 cm/hr).Data indicate that subsoiling and gypsum application caused significant increases for sugar beet and rice yields compared to control. Sugar beet roots yield are higher after application of subsoiling and gypsum than that control by 3.48, 3.80, 3.80 and 3.31 ton fed.-1 for subsoiling one direction + 1.5 ton G.fed.-1, two directions + 1.5 ton G.fed.-1, one direction + 3 ton G.fed.-1 and two directions + 3 ton G.fed.-1, respectively. The corresponding values of gross sugar yield were 0.550, 0.650, 0.650 and 0.580 ton fed.-1, respectively. Also, rice grain yield are higher after application of subsoiling and gypsum than that control by 0.590, 0.610, 0.610 and 0.580 ton fed.-1 for the above mentioned treatments, respectively. Subsoiling and gypsum are good ways in clay soils to reserve the root zone from salinity and sodcity as well as tend to improve soil physio-chemical characteristics and increase crops production.
Keywords: (Drainage, Subsoiling, Clay soil, Rice, sugar beet. )
