Nano-gypsum in low dose improves the physicochemical properties of saline-sodic soil

ABSTRACT

Increased Na⁺ ions negatively affect soil physicochemical characteristics. We ran a pot incubation experiment for 2 months and a leaching experiment for another 2 months to monitor the effects of nano-gypsum (NG, <100 nm) in low affordable doses on improving saline-sodic soil physicochemical characteristics. Treatments included a control (CK), conventional gypsum (CG; ≤ 0.5 mm) at 100% CG requirement (8.9 t ha⁻¹: CGR), and three low doses of NG (240, 480 and 960 kg ha⁻¹ = 2.7%, 5.4% and 10.8% of the CGR). Both applications of NG at 10.8% of CGR and the CG at 100% of CGR followed by leaching had the best effect and performed almost equally. However, the use of 960 kg NG ha⁻¹ had the most pronounced effect, where it decreased the bulk density (16.4%) and increased stable soil structure (46.2%). Also, the soil hydraulic conductivity increased by approximately 2.4 times, which helped increase the Na-removal efficiency by 68.9%. Moreover, it decreased soil reaction, electrical conductivity and exchangeable-Na percentage by 15.9%, 39.7% and 71.4% compared to the CK, respectively. Therefore, the NG may introduce novel and alternative application strategy that allows for lower application rate with an adequate gypsum requirement.

KEYWORDS:

• Sodium removal efficiency
• salt affected soils
• amelioration

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The authors declare that all data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.