Abstract:
Objective This study investigated the effects and mechanisms of a novel soil conditioner product K (developed based on calcium sulfate, humic acid and ammonium sulfate) on alkaline soil desalination, alkali reduction and plant growth promotion in the rhizosphere.
Methods Maize was used as the experimental crop, and a soil column cultivation system was employed to conduct a two-factor experiment with different application rates of soil conditioner K (0, 0.35, and 0.525 g kg−1 soil) and the presence or absence of maize planting. The dynamic changes in maize plant height, salt ion content, and pH value in soil solution, as well as the salt ion content and pH value in different soil layers were measured at the end of the experiment, to reveal the effects and mechanisms of soil conditioner K on alkali reduction and desalination in the rhizosphere of crops in saline-alkali soils and improvement of crop salt tolerance.
Results The results showed that the application rate of 0.525 g kg−1 of soil conditioner K significantly promoted maize growth. Compared with the control treatment without soil conditioner K under the same conditions, maize plant height, above-ground dry weight, and root dry weight increased by 10.72%, 24.55% and 57.74%, respectively. The application rate of 0.35 g kg−1 also promoted maize growth, but the effect was weaker than that of 0.525 g kg−1. Under the application rates of 0.35 g kg−1 and 0.525 g kg−1, soil conditioner K reduced the contents of sodium and chloride ions in the 0 ~ 19 cm soil layer. When maize was planted in the two treatments, the contents of sodium ions decreased by 19.1% and 15.4%, and the contents of chloride ions decreased by 15.5% and 22.0%. When maize was not planted in the two treatments, the average contents of sodium and chloride ions decreased by 23.0% and 19.7%.
Conclusion Soil conditioner K can effectively promote desalination and significantly promote crop growth applied at an appropriate rate. The main mechanism is that the conditioner K could reduce the soil pH value and then to promote the leaching of sodium and chloride ions.