SOIL salinization and water scarcity are among the major threats affecting crop productivity in Egypt. To ameliorate a saline-sodic soil (EC= 8.2 dS m-1 and ESP= 22.9%) under no-leaching conditions, a greenhouse experiment was conducted, including three factors (1: Arthrospira platensis bio-inoculant with two treatments (non-inoculated and inoculated seeds), 2: phosphogypsum with three rates (non, 50% and 100 of the gypsum requirements and 3: compost with three rates (none, 7.5 and 15 g kg-1) to evaluate their efficiencies on increasing barley plants grown on such a soil, on one hand, and minimizing soil deterioration in terms of soil EC and ESP., on the other hand. After 75 days of incubation, Arthrospira platensis increased significantly soil EC values, while decreased soil ESP. This inoculant also increased P and K uptake by plants while recorded no significant effect on barley dry weight. For soils treated with either compost or phosphogypsum, their highest rates decreased significantly soil ESP and, at the same time, caused significant increases in barley dry weights. Furthermore, these two amendments increased significantly NPK availability ; consequently, their uptake by plants. Generally, phosphogypsum seemed to be more efficient in minimizing the negative implications of no leaching conditions on chemical characteristics than did the compost treatment investigated. Combined amendments seemed to be more efficient than the single ones on improving soil characteristics and increasing plants grown thereon, especially the triple applications which reduced soil ESP by more than 50%, while increased barley dry-weight by approximately 40%. In conclusion,the integrated treatments are recommended to raise barley productivity grown on salt affected-soils under no leaching conditions; while lessen further soil degradation. |
