Improvement of soil properties and plant growth on a brown solonetzic soil using irrigation, calcium amendments and nitrogen

• Published in: Canadian journal of soil science 1986-11, Vol.66 (4), p.581-589
• Main Authors: Carter, M.R, Pearen, J.R, Karkanis, P.G, Cairns, R.R, McAndrew, D.W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Bromus inermis; calcium; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; growth rate; gypsum; irrigation; limed soils; nitrogen; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; soil amendments; soil properties; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; solonetz
• ISSN: 0008-4271; 1918-1841
• DOI: 10.4141/cjss86-058

A 4-yr study was conducted on an irrigated Brown Solonetzic soil in southern Alberta to determine the effects of relatively low rates (4.2 Mg Ca ha −1 ) of surface-applied gypsum (CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O) and lime (CaCO 3 ) on soil chemical properties, water penetration and growth of bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss). Annual applications (155 kg N ha −1 ) of ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ) and ammonium bisulphite (NH 4 HSO 3 ) were applied alone and in combination with the Ca amendments. Gypsum improved the chemical condition of the Bnt horizon by decreasing soluble Na and the electrical conductivity, and increasing levels of exchangeable Ca. The exchangeable Ca to Na ratio was increased from 5.5 to 16.9, while the sodium adsorption ratio was reduced from 18.1 to 7.6. Gypsum also decreased the EC of the Csk horizon from 12.7 to 5.2 dS m −1 . In contrast, the lime amendment only increased the exchangeable Ca level of the Bnt horizon. Ammonium bisulphite decreased the soil pH of the soil profile, especially the Ap horizon (7.3–6.3), and increased the initial rate of water penetration into the Bnt horizon. Gypsum increased by threefold the rate of water infiltration into the Bnt horizon compared with the control soil. Plant yields were increased over the control by ammonium bisulphite (46%), ammonium nitrate (66%), gypsum (77%) and gypsum plus ammonium nitrate (111%). The study indicates that a combination of irrigation with gypsum was capable of moving Ca into a relatively high sodic Bnt horizon, causing an improvement in both the soil condition and plant productivity. Key words: Solonetzic soil, irrigation, gypsum, lime, sodic soil, ammonium nitrate