The necessity to saline and sodic waters is sometimes used for irrigating agricultural activities under certain circumstances, but it is important to note that the use of these waters comes with specific considerations and limitations. One way to decrease undesirable effects of sodic waters on the physical and chemical properties of soils is to apply organic and chemical amendments within the soil. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of saline water on soil acidity, alkalinity and nutrients leaching in sandy loamy soil at Bella flower farm, in Rwamagana District, Rwanda. The water used was from the Muhazi Lake which is classified as Class I (Saline water quality). Column leaching experiments using treated soils were then conducted under saturated conditions. The soil under experimental was first analyzed for its textural classification, soil properties and is classified as sandy loamy soil. The t-test was taken at 1%, 5% and 10% levels of statistical significance compared to control soil. The results indicated that the application of saline water to soils caused an increase in some soil nutrients like increase of Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K+), Magnesium (Mg2+), Sulphur (S), CN ratio and Sodium (Na+) and decreased soil texture, physical and chemical properties and remained soil nutrients. Consequently, the intensive addition of saline water leachates to soil in PVC pipes led to decreased of soil EC through leaching and a raiser Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP). The rate of saline water application affected the increase accumulation of SAR and Na% in the top soil layers. The study indicated that saline water is an inefficient amendment for sandy soil with saline water irrigation. The study recommends further studies with similar topic with saline water irrigation, as it accentuated the alkalinity levels.
References
[1]
Usanzineza, D., et al. (2011) Nutrient Inflows and Levels in Lake: A Case Study of Lake Muhazi, Rwanda. International Journal of Ecology and Development, 19, 53-62. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288411757
[2]
Hamza, A., Tahir, M.A., Us-Sabah, N., Sarwar, G. and Luqman, M. (2021) Systematic Use of Saline Water with Leaching Fraction for Improving Soil Health under Arid Conditions. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 37, 1222-1229. https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.sja/2021/37.4.1222.1229
[3]
Hossain, N., Muhibbullah, M., Ali, K.Md.B. and Molla, M.H. (2015) Relationship between Soil Salinity and Physico-Chemical Properties of Paddy Field Soils of Jhilwanja Union, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Journal of Agricultural Science, 7, 166-180. https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v7n10p166
[4]
Che, Z., Wang, J. and Li, J. (2021) Effects of Water Quality, Irrigation Amount and Nitrogen Applied on Soil Salinity and Cotton Production under Mulched Drip Irrigation in Arid Northwest China. Agricultural Water Management, 247, Article ID: 106738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2021.106738
[5]
Sinha, D. and Tandon, P.K. (2020) An Overview of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium: Key Players of Nutrition Process in Plants. In: Mishra, K., Tandon, P.K. and Srivastava, S., Eds., Sustainable Solutions for Elemental Deficiency and Excess in Crop Plants, Springer, Singapore, 85-117. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8636-1_5
[6]
Hailu, H., Mamo, T., Keskinen, R., Karltun, E., Gebrekidan, H. and Bekele, T. (2015) Soil Fertility Status and Wheat Nutrient Content in Vertisol Cropping Systems of Central Highlands of Ethiopia. Agriculture & Food Security, 4, Article No. 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-015-0038-0
[7]
Jalali, M. and Rowell, D.L. (2003) The Role of Calcite and Gypsum in the Leaching of Potassium in a Sandy Soil. Experimental Agriculture, 39, 379-394. https://doi.org/10.1017/S001447970300139X
[8]
Jalali, M. and Rowell, D.L. (2009) Potassium Leaching in Undisturbed Soil Cores Following Surface Applications of Gypsum. Environmental Geology, 57, 41-48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1280-6
[9]
Johnston, A.E., Goulding, K.W. and Mercer, E. (1993) Potassium Leaching from a Sandy Loam Soil.
[10]
Jalali, M. (2010) Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Potassium Status in Agricultural Soils in Hamadan, Western Iran. Pedosphere, 20, 293-303. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(10)60017-3
[11]
Bar-Tal, A., Feigenbaum, S. and Sparks, D.L. (1991) Potassium-Salinity Interactions in Irrigated Corn. Irrigation Science, 12, 27-35. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00190706
[12]
Lehmann, J. and Schroth, G. (2003) Chapter 7. Nutrient Leaching. In: Schroth, G. and Sinclair, F.L., Eds., Trees, Crops and Soil Fertility: Concepts and Research Methods, CABI, Wallingford, 151-166. https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851995939.0151
[13]
Black, A.S. and Cameron, K.C. (1984) Effect of Leaching on Soil Properties and Lucerne Growth Following Lime and Gypsum Amendments to a Soil with an Acid Subsoil. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 27, 195-200. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288233.1984.10430421
[14]
Al-Wabel, M.A., Heil, D.M., Westfall, D.G. and Barbarick, K.A. (2002) Solution Chemistry Influence on Metal Mobility in Biosolids-Amended Soils. Journal of Environmental Quality, 31, 1157-1165.
[15]
Kumar, S., Rao, M.V.S.R. and Chinchmalatpure, A.R. (2017) ICAR-CSSRI/Bha-ruch/Technical Manual/2017/07 Protocols for Soil Sampling, Soil and Water Analysis.
[16]
Rosolem, C.A., Sgariboldi, T., Garcia, R.A. and Calonego, J.C. (2010) Potassium Leaching as Affected by Soil Texture and Residual Fertilization in Tropical Soils. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 41, 1934-1943. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2010.495804
[17]
Qian, Y.L. and Mecham, B. (2005) Long-Term Effects of Recycled Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Chemical Properties on Golf Course Fairways. Agronomy Journal, 97, 717-721. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2004.0140
[18]
Ciríaco Da Silva, E., et al. (2010) Drought Stress and Plant Nutrition. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/209959355
[19]
Shuman, L.M. and Hargrove, W.L. (1985) Effect of Tillage on the Distribution of Manganese, Copper, Iron, and Zinc in Soil Fractions. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 49, 1117-1121.
[20]
Ashraf, M., Shahzad, S.M., Akhtar, N., Imtiaz, M. and Ali, A. (2017) Salinization/Sodification of Soil and Physiological Dynamics of Sunflower Irrigated with Saline-Sodic Water Amending by Potassium and Farm Yard Manure. Journal of Water Reuse and Desalination, 7, 476-487. https://doi.org/10.2166/wrd.2016.053
[21]
Jalali, M. and Ranjbar, F. (2009) Effects of Sodic Water on Soil Sodicity and Nutrient Leaching in Poultry and Sheep Manure Amended Soils. Geoderma, 153, 194-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2009.08.004
