Reclamation of fine-textured sodic soil using gypsum, langbeinite, and calcium chloride

The effects of various application rates of gypsum (Aqua-cal = finely ground gypsum), langbeinite (K₂SO₄.2MgSO₄), and CaCl₂ (anhydrous) on exchangeable Na removal and saturated hydraulic conductivity of a sodic soil were investigated under laboratory batch studies and laboratory column leaching studies. The research involved four phases of studies. Characterization of the soil and irrigation water indicated that the soil sample is sodic (ESP=35.3), ECₑ = 3.36 dS/m), and the irrigation water is moderately saline (EC = 2.2 dS/m). The laboratory batch studies showed that CaCl₂ and langbeinite treatments were more efficient in the displacement of Na than gypsum which increased with increasing application rate. In contrast, with gypsum, Na displacement increased to a maximum at an application rate of 7 tons/ha; then, no further increase in displacement was observed above that level. In the column leaching studies, applied amendments at equivalent rates of 7 tons/ha each and leaching with 5 pore volumes of irrigation water resulted in a total Na displacement of 60%, 80%, and 84% for gypsum, langbeinite, and CaCl₂, respectively. Moreover, the SAR of the soil was reduced significantly in the above treatments from 34.5 in the beginning of leaching to 6.80 for gypsum (G7), from 41.8 to 5.60 for langbeinite (L₇), and from 32.6 to 2.5 for CaCl₂(7). When amendments were applied at higher rates (G7 tons/ha gypsum and 13 tons/ha of each of CaCl₂ and langbeinite), the % total Na displaced was 60%, 100%, and 94% for gypsum, langbeinite, and CaCl₂, respectively. The corresponding SAR values at the end of reclamation were 6.80, 4.50, and 5.50 for gypsum, langbeinite, and CaCl₂, respectively. The combination treatments significantly improved the reclamation at 0.05 level as compared to the G7 treatment alone and saved more leaching water and displaced higher exchangeable Na as compared to the gypsum treatment (G7) alone. Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) studies indicated that Ks was increased significantly when the amendments were applied at equivalent weights (7 tons/ha) and at higher application rates as compared to the control. The Ks of the gypsum treated soil (G7) was significantly higher than Ks of langbeinite and CaCl₂ treated soil at both equivalent rates and when applied at higher rates L13 and CaCl₂(13)