A pot experiment was conducted on 5 highly saline sodic soils having EC of 38 to 63 dS/m and ESP of 39 to 45. The soils were collected from 0-30-cm top layer of 5 different locations in Sahl El-Tena coastal region, north of Sinai, Egypt. Salicornia plants (salicornia europaea L.) were grown for 3 successive years (2006, 2007 and 2008) and compared with remediation by leaching with gypsum addition. Remediation by leaching with gypsum was more effective bringing the soil EC down to 2 to 4 dS/m and the ESP down to 8 to 9 as compared with remediation by salicornia which decreased the EC down to 18 to 29 dS/m and the ESP down to 20 to 25. Remediation by leaching with gypsum allowed wheat to grow, but remediation by salicornia was not sufficient for wheat growth. However, since salicornia removed from soils considerable amounts of salts (particularly Na and Cl salts), it could be used as a partial way for remediating highly saline sodic soils supplemented by leaching with gypsum. Using salicornia as such would decrease the amount of leaching water needed for reclamation. |
