RECLAMATION RESPONSE OF TWO DIFFERENT TEXTURED SALINE-SODIC SOILS TO EC|W TO SAR[W RATIOS

Abstract

A Lysimeter experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different ratios of electrical conductivity (ECiw) to sodium adsorption ratio (SARiw) of irrigation water to reclaim different textured saline-sodic soils. The ECllr:SARlw ratios were 4:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4 at EC1H, of 6 or 12 dS m''. The total water applied was equal to 3 pore volume in three equal splits. The results indicated that at both the ECiw, teachate volume increased with an increase in EC^SAR^. The EC and SAR of leachate remained statistically higher where ECilr:SAR,w ratios of the leaching solutions were lower than 1:1. The ECr ,pHs and SAR decreased with alt the treatments, decrease being statistically more with ECiw;SARi, ratio up to 1:1 or higher and was lower for loamy clay than that for the clay loam soil. The saturated hydraulic conductivity (K,„J decreased with a decrease in EClw:SARitl and vice versa and was statistically higher for clay loam than that for the loamy clay soil. It is concluded that better EClw:SARtw ratios were up to 1:1 for reclaiming clay loam and loamy clay soils at both the EC,„ levels of 6 and 12 dS m~'.