Emergence Rate,Yield, and Nitrogen-Use Efficiency of Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) Vary with Soil Salinity and Amount of Nitrogen Applied

For understanding the effects of soil salinity and nitrogen (N) fertilizer on the emergence rate, yield, and nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) of sunflowers, complete block design studies were conducted in Hetao Irrigation District, China. Four levels of soil salinity (electrical conductivity [EC_e] = 2.44–29.23 dS m^?1) and three levels of N fertilization (90–180 kg ha^?1) were applied to thirty-six microplots. Soil salinity significantly affected sunflower growth (P < 0.05). High salinity (EC_e = 9.03–18.06 dS m^?1) reduced emergence rate by 24.5 percent, seed yield by 31.0 percent, hundred-kernel weight by 15.2 percent, and biological yield by 27.4 percent, but it increased the harvest index by 0.9 percent relative to low salinity (EC_e = 2.44–4.44 dS m^?1). Application of N fertilizer alleviated some of the adverse effects of salinity, especially in highly saline soils. We suggest that moderate (135 kg ha^?1) and high (180 kg ha^?1) levels of N fertilization could provide the maximum benefit in low- to moderate-salinity and high- or severe-salinity fields, respectively, in Hetao Irrigation District and similar sunflower-growing areas.     

Effect of zeolite and saline water application on saturated hydraulic conductivity and infiltration in different soil textures

The effects of zeolite application (0, 4, 8 and16 g kg^?1) and saline water (0.5, 1.5, 3.0 and 5.0 dS m^?1) on saturated hydraulic conductivity (K _s) and sorptivity (S) in different soils were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Results showed that K _s was increased at salinity levels of 0.5‐1.5 dS m^?1 in clay loam and loam with 8 and 4 g zeolite kg^?1 soil, respectively, and at salinity levels of 3.0–5.0 dS m^?1 with 16 g zeolite kg^?1 soil. K _s was decreased by using low and high salinity levels in sandy loam with application of 8 and 16 g zeolite kg^?1, respectively. In clay loam, salinity levels of 0.5–3.0 dS m^?1 with application of 16 g kg^?1 zeolite and 5.0 dS m^?1 with application of 8 g zeolite kg^?1 soil resulted in the lowest values of S. In loam, all salinity levels with application of 16 g zeolite kg^?1 soil increased S compared with other zeolite application rates. In sandy loam, only a salinity level of 0.5 dS m^?1 with application of 4 g zeolite kg^?1 soil increased S. Other zeolite applications decreased S, whereas increasing the zeolite application to 16 g kg^?1 soil resulted in the lowest value of S.     

Calibration of Gypsum Blocks for Measuring Saline Soils Moisture

The proper management of irrigation requires an accurate measuring of soil moisture. One of the commonly applied methods for measuring soil moisture is the use of gypsum blocks – a method that is simple and quick to apply. However, measuring moisture in saline soils using this method is prone to errors due to the effect of soil salinity on the block. In this study, the effect of different salinities (1, 2, 6, 10, and 18 deci Siemens per meter (dS m^?1) on the measurements of a gypsum block type 5910 A was investigated with two repetitions in random blocks in sandy loam, loam, and clay loam soils, and corrective functions were obtained using multivariate regression for all soils with different salinity levels. The results showed different trends for measuring the soil moistures for salinities 1–6 dS m^?1 compared with salinities 10–18 dS m^?1, and the corrective functions in salinities 1–6 dS m^?1, which had higher accuracies than those with salinities 10–18 dS m^?1.     

Soil texture affects the conversion factor of electrical conductivity from 1:5 soil-water to saturated paste extracts

Electrical conductivity(EC) of soil-water extracts is commonly used to assess soil salinity. However, its conversion to the EC of saturated soil paste extracts(ECe), the standard measure of soil salinity, is currently required for practical applications. Although many regression models can be used to obtain ECe from the EC of soil-water extracts, the application of a site-specific model to different sites is not straightforward due to confounding soil factors such as soil texture. This study was...     

Assessment of salinity tolerance threshold for two wheat genotypes in response to zinc

Plants’ tolerance to salt stress is different among species, nevertheless, mineral nutrition might also affect it. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Zinc (Zn) on salinity tolerance using a sigmoid response model in two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes ‘Falat’ and ‘Bam’ with different salinity tolerances. The treatments consisted of three Zn rates (0, 5 and 10 mg Zn kg^?1) and five levels of soil salinity (1.1, 6.5, 12.3, 18.7 and 25.1 dS m^?1). The results showed that dry weight of straw and grain decreased, as salinity increased in both genotypes although this decrease in ‘Falat’ genotype was higher than that of ‘Bam’ genotype. Application of 10 mg kg^?1 Zn increased the dry weight by 25% (straw) and 32% (grain) in ‘Falat’ but 67% (straw) and 60% (grain) in ‘Bam’ as compared with the absence of added Zn. According to the fitted function, in the absence of Zn, grain production began to decline at EC_e-values of 4.7 dS m^?1 in ‘Falat’ genotype, and 7.5 dS m^?1 in ‘Bam’ genotype. Application of Zn led to a decrease of salinity tolerance in ‘Falat’ genotype, but an increase in ‘Bam’ genotype. The study found that Zn application under saline conditions, depending on genetic differences of wheat genotypes, would have different effects on their tolerance to salinity.     

ECe prediction from EC1:5 in inland salt-affected soils collected from Khorat and Sakhon Nakhon basins,Thailand

ABSTRACT

We estimate the electrical conductivity of saturated soil paste extract (ECe) from electrical conductivity of a 1:5 soil-water dilution ratio (EC_1:5) in Northeastern Thailand. Soil samples of various textures and salinity collected from Sakhon Nakhon basin were used to develop multiple regression models, from which the linear model was chosen and was validated on soil samples from the Khorat basin. Comparison with previous models indicated that most linear models gave a good fit, but the non-linear models either over or underestimated the measured values. The models performed very well for low values of EC_e (<5 dS m^?1), while the prediction errors increased significantly for EC_e levels >35 dS m^?1. The present model performed well at various EC_e levels and can be used to predict salinity levels for soils weathered from salt deposits in sedimentary rocks with similar rock formation in countries like Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.     

Is CO2 evolution in saline soils affected by an osmotic effect and calcium carbonate?

Salt-affected soils are widespread, particularly in arid climates, but information on nutrient dynamics and carbon dioxide (CO₂) efflux from salt-affected soils is scarce. Four laboratory incubation experiments were conducted with three soils. To determine the influence of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) on respiration in saline and non-saline soils, a loamy sand (6.3% clay) was left unamended or amended with NaCl to obtain an electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.0 dS?m^?1 in a 1:5 soil/water extract. Powdered CaCO₃ at rates of 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0% and 10.0% (w/w) and 0.25-2 mm mature wheat residue at 0% and 2% (w/w) were then added. Cumulative CO₂-C emission from the salt amended and unamended soils was not affected by CaCO₃ addition. To investigate the effect of EC on microbial activity, soil respiration was measured after amending a sandy loam (18.8% clay) and a silt loam (22.5% clay) with varying amount of NaCl to obtain an EC_1:5 of 1.0–8.0 dS?m^?1 and 2.5 g glucose C?kg^?1 soil. Soil respiration was reduced by more than 50% at EC_1:5?≥?5.0 dS?m^?1. In a further experiment, salinity up to an EC_1:5 of 5.0 dS?m^?1 was developed in the silt loam with NaCl or CaCl₂. No differences in respiration at a given EC were obtained between the two salts, indicating that Na and Ca did not differ in toxicity to microbial activity. The effect of different addition rates (0.25–2.0%) of mature wheat residue on the response of respiration to salinity was investigated by adding NaCl to the silt loam to obtain an EC_1:5 of 2.0 and 4.0 dS?m^?1. The clearest difference between salinity levels was with 2% residue rate. At a given salinity level, the modelled decomposition constant ‘k’ increased with increasing residue addition rate up to 1% and then remained constant. Particulate organic carbon left after decomposition from the added wheat residues was negatively correlated with cumulative respiration but positively correlated with EC. Inorganic N (NH ₄ ⁺ -N and NO ₃ ^? -N) and resin P significantly decreased with increasing salinity. Resin P was significantly decreased by addition of CaCl₂ and CaCO₃.     

Sodic Soil Reclamation Potential of Gypsum and Biocharadditions: Influence on Physicochemical Properties and Soil Respiration

Reclamation of sodic soils is proving increasingly vital as greater land area becomes salt-affected in the northern Great Plains of the United States. Flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) can be an agriculturally important resource for increasing land productivity through the amelioration of sodic soils. Biochar is also considered as an aid in reclaiming degraded soils. In this incubation study, two rates of FGDG (33.6 Mg ha^?1 and 66.2 Mg ha^?1), two rates of biochar made from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) pulp (16.8 Mg ha^?1), and one rate of FGDG combined with one rate of biochar (33.6 Mg ha^?1 ea.) were applied to a sodic soil. Soil physicochemical properties, including cationic exchange, pH, electrical conductivity (EC_e), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR_e), total organic carbon (TOC), water retention, and soil respiration rate, were assessed during and at the end of the incubation period. Addition of FGDG to sodic soil increased EC_e from 3.5 to 8.4 dS m^?1 and decreased SAR_e from 16 to 9. Biochar addition to sodic soil increased TOC from 62.2 to 99.5 μg g^?1 and increased soil respiration rate (mg C kg^?1 soil day^?1) on every measurement period. When FGDG and biochar were both added to the sodic soil, TOC did not significantly improve; however, EC_e increased from 3.5 to 7.7 dS m^?1, SAR_e decreased from 16 to 9, and soil respiration rate increased for all measurements. The results confirm there is potential for FGDG and biochar to reclaim sodic soils alone, and applied in combination.     

Salinity reduces the ability of soil microbes to utilise cellulose

An incubation experiment was conducted to determine the response of soil microbial biomass and activity to salinity when supplied with two different carbon forms. One nonsaline and three saline soils of similar texture (sandy clay loam) with electrical conductivities of the saturation extract (EC_e) of 1, 11, 24 and 43 dS m^?1 were used. Carbon was added at 2.5 and 5 g C kg^?1 (2.5C, 5C) as glucose or cellulose; soluble N and P were added to achieve a C/N ratio of 20 and C/P ratio of 200. Soil microbial activity was assessed by measuring CO₂ evolution continuously for 3 weeks; microbial biomass C and available N and P were determined on days 2, 7, 14 and 21. In all soils, cumulative respiration was higher with 5C than with 2.5C and higher with glucose than with cellulose. Cumulative respiration was highest in the nonsaline soil and decreased with increasing EC, whereas the decrease was gradual with glucose, there was a sharp drop in cumulative respiration with cellulose from the nonsaline soil to soil with EC11 with little further decrease at higher ECs. Microbial biomass C and available N and P concentrations were highest in the nonsaline soil but did not differ among the saline soils. Microbial biomass C was higher and available N was lower with 5C than with 2.5C. The C form affected the temporal changes of microbial biomass and available nutrients differentially. With glucose, microbial biomass was highest on day 2 and then decreased, whereas available N showed the opposite pattern, being lowest on day 2 and then increasing. With cellulose, microbial biomass C increased gradually over time, and available N decreased gradually. It is concluded that salinity reduced the ability of microbes to decompose cellulose more than that of glucose.     

Subcritical soil hydrophobicity in the presence of native and exotic arbuscular mycorrhizal species at different soil salinity levels

Soil salinity and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) influence the soil hydrophobicity. An experiment was performed to determine the effects of soil salinity and AMF species on soil water repellency (SWR) under wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. Six AMF treatments, including four exotic species (Rhizophagus irregularis, Funneliformis mosseae and Claroideoglomus claroideum, a mix of three species), one mix native AMF species treatment and an AMF-free soil in combination with four salinity levels (1, 5, 10, and 15 dS m^?1) were used. The soil repellency index (RI) increased with salinity increment ranging from 2.4 to 10.5. The mix of three exotic and native AMF treatments enhanced the RI significantly compared to AMF-free soil in all salinity levels with one exception for native treatment at 1 dS m^?1. Among individual AMF species, the C. claroideum treatment at 10 dS m^?1 increased the RI by 67% compared to AMF-free soil. The native AMF treatment was more efficient in root colonization, glomalin production and SWR development at 10 and 15 dS m^?1, compared to exotic species. In addition to the net positive effect of salinity on SWR, the AMF influences on the RI were greatly dependent on salinity levels.     

Community composition and activity of microbes from saline soils and non-saline soils respond similarly to changes in salinity

Saline soils are wide-spread and characterised by poor plant growth and low microbial activity but salinity fluctuates seasonally or with irrigation water quality. Therefore it is important to understand the response of soil microbial communities to changes in soil salinity. We carried out an experiment to test the hypothesis that microbial communities from soils with medium to high salinity respond differently to salinity than microbes from non-saline soils or soils with low salinity. We prepared a microbial inoculum from field soils of different salinity (EC_1:5 0.3, 1.1, 2.7, 4.6 and 6.0 dS m⁻¹). This inoculum was added to quartz sand adjusted to EC_1:5 0.3, 1.1, 2.9, 4.6, 6.0 and 8.0 dS m⁻¹ and amended with finely ground wheat straw and basal nutrients. The sand mix was incubated at 80% water holding capacity for 27 days. Soil respiration was measured continuously, microbial community composition (based on phospholipid fatty acid analysis) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were determined at the start and the end of the incubation. Irrespective of inoculum EC, cumulative respiration decreased with increasing adjusted EC with no differences among inocula. The POC concentration was always lowest at adjusted EC 0.3 and highest at EC 8.0. Up to adjusted EC 4.6, the POC concentration was lower with inoculum EC 0.3 than with the inocula of higher EC. The inocula had distinct microbial community composition at all adjusted ECs, but the changes induced by the adjusted EC were similar in all inocula. The results are contrast to our hypothesis because increasing salinity decreased soil respiration of all inocula to a similar extent. In fact, the lower POC concentration with inoculum from the non-saline soil up to an adjusted EC of 4.6 suggests that the microbial communities from the non-saline soil are able to decompose the added wheat straw under low to moderate salinity to a greater extent than those from saline soils. On the other hand, even microbes from highly saline soils can respond quickly with an increase in activity if the salinity is reduced, e.g. after heavy rainfall which leaches the salts out of the top soil.     

Slingram Prediction of Optimal Vegetable Yields in Drought-Affected Alkaline Soil

Drought is a serious concern in many parts of the world, including in California, where paucity of available irrigation water has impaired crop production and soil health through salt accumulation. With extending water and salinity crises, there is a need for advanced salt and vegetation management. To develop more efficient management solutions, Slingram electromagnetic investigations and stochastic and statistical analyses were performed for determining optimal vegetable yields in a salt-affected farmland. The Slingram results were evaluated using multi-linear regression analyses, and the yield and salinity were characterized for central tendency, variance, distributions and symmetry. The yields of two studied vegetable crops, lettuce and tomato, increased with decreasing salinity load. The average lettuce and tomato yield potentials were 55 and 75%, respectively. The minimum yield potential for tomato was 9.5 times higher than that for lettuce. The mode value for conductivity (EC_e) was 650 mS m^?1, which corresponded to 50% yield loss. The yield loss was <10% in locations with EC_e < 250 mS m^?1. In zones with EC_e > 850 mS m^?1, the yield reductions for lettuce and tomato reached up to 96 and 60%, respectively. About 57 and 82% of the field area could be limited to 20% yield potentials for tomato and lettuce, respectively. Lettuce had a higher cost benefit than tomato albeit with a greater yield potential of the latter crop. By delineating the spatial contours of salt-induced yield variability, vegetables can be grown in segmented soil zones based on salinity levels.     

Soil salinity and its distribution determined by soil sampling and electromagnetic techniques

Abstract. Diagnosis of soil salinity and its spatial variability is required to establish control measures in irrigated agriculture. This article shows the usefulness of electromagnetic (EM) and soil sampling techniques to map salinity. We analysed the salinity of a 1‐ha plot of surface‐irrigated olive plantation in Aragon, NE Spain, by measuring the electrical conductivity of the saturation extract (EC_e) of soil samples taken at 22 points, and by reading the Geonics EM38 sensor at 141 points in the horizontal (EM_H) and vertical (EM_V) dipole positions. EM_H and EM_V values had asymmetrical bimodal distributions, with most readings in the non‐saline range and a sharp transition to relatively high readings. Most salinity profiles were uniform (i.e. EM_H=EM_V), except in areas with high salinity and concurrent shallow water tables, where the profiles were inverted as shown by EM_H > EM_V, and by EC_e being greater in shallow than in deeper layers. The regressions of EC_e on EM readings predicted EC_e with R² > 84% for the 0–100 to 0–150 cm soil depths. We then produced salinity contour maps from the 141 EC_e values estimated from the electromagnetic readings and the 22 measured values of EC_e. Owing to the high soil sampling density, the maps were similar (i.e. mean surface‐weighted EC_e values between 3.9 dS m^?1 and 4.2 dS m^?1), although the electromagnetically estimated EC_e improved the mapping of details. Whereas soil sampling is preferred for analysing the vertical distribution of soil salinity, the electromagnetic sensor is ideal for mapping the lateral variability of soil salinity.     

Salinity and sodicity affect soil respiration and dissolved organic matter dynamics differentially in soils varying in texture

The individual effects of salinity and sodicity on organic matter dynamics are well known but less is known about their interactive effects. We conducted a laboratory incubation experiment to assess soil respiration and dissolved organic matter (DOM) dynamics in response to salinity and sodicity in two soils of different texture. Two non-saline non-sodic soils (a sand and a sandy clay loam) were leached 3–4 times with solutions containing different concentrations of NaCl and CaCl₂ to reach almost identical electrical conductivity (EC_1:5) in both soils (EC_1:5 0.5, 1.3, 2.5 and 4.0 dS m^?1 in the sand and EC_1:5 0.7, 1.4, 2.5 and 4.0 dS m^?1 in the sandy clay loam) combined with two sodium absorption ratios: SAR < 3 and 20. Finely ground wheat straw residue was added (20 g kg^?1) as substrate to stimulate microbial activity. Cumulative respiration was more strongly affected by EC than by SAR. It decreased by 8% at EC 1.3 and by 60% at EC 4.0 in the sand, whereas EC had no effect on respiration in the sandy clay loam. The apparent differential sensitivity to EC in the two soils can be explained by their different water content and therefore, different osmotic potential at the same EC. At almost similar osmotic potential: ?2.92 MPa in sand (at EC 1.3) and ?2.76 MPa in the sandy clay loam (at EC 4.0) the relative decrease in respiration was similar (8–9%). Sodicity had little effect on cumulative respiration in the soils, but DOC, DON and specific ultra-violet absorbance (SUVA) were significantly higher at SAR 20 than at SAR < 3 in combination with low EC in both soils (EC 0.5 in the sand and EC 0.7 and 1.4 in the sandy clay loam). Therefore, high SAR in combination with low EC is likely to increase the risk of DOC and DON leaching in the salt-affected soils, which may lead to further soil degradation.     

Effect of nutrient solution salinity and ionic concentration on parsley (Petroselinum crispum Mill.) essential oil yield and content

The growth and essential oil (EO) production of parsley were evaluated in response to salinity and nutrient solution concentrations in a soilless culture. Parsley plants that were 60 days old were potted in a coconut fiber and peat moss medium and were treated with four different nutrient solutions, including T1, T2, T3 and T4. The T1 nutrient solution was the standard, the T2 and T3 solutions contained incremental macronutrient concentrations with an electrical conductivity (EC) of up to 2.2 and 3.2 dS m^?1, respectively, and the T4 solution was the same as T2 but with sodium chloride (NaCl) and an incremental macronutrient concentration with an EC of 3.2 dS m^?1. Next, these plants were grown for 90 days in a greenhouse with natural daylight in Nador, Morocco. Shoot and root growth significant decreased with increasing EC. However, the salinity that resulted from the addition of NaCl did not affect plant growth in the nutrient solutions. The optimum obtained growth and EO production were 1.2 and 2.2 dS m^?1, respectively. Consequently, the optimum EC value (based on the EO production) of parsley in the soilless culture was 1.2–2.2 dS m^?1.     

Variable inhibition of iron uptake by oat phytosiderophore in five soybean cultivars

Abstract

Greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on plant growth, and nutrient uptake in saline soils with different salt and phosphorus (P) levels. The following treatments were included in this experiment: (i) Soil A, with salt level of 16.6 dS m^?1 and P level of 8.4 mg kg^?1; (ii) Soil B, with salt level of 6.2 dS m^?1 and P level of 17.5 mg kg^?1; and (iii) Soil C, with salt level of 2.4 dS m^?1 and P level of 6.5 mg kg^?1. Soils received no (control) or 25 mg P kg^?1 soil as triple super phosphate and were either not inoculated (control) or inoculated with a mixture of AM (AM1) and/or with Glomus intraradices (AM2). All pots were amended with 125 mg N kg^?1 soil as ammonium sulfate. Barley (Hordeum vulgar L., cv. “ACSAD 6”) was grown for five weeks. Plants grown on highly saline soils were severely affected where the dry weight was significantly lower than plants growing on moderately and low saline soils. The tiller number and the plant height were also lower under highly saline condition. The reduced plant growth under highly saline soils is mainly attributed to the negative effect of the high osmotic potential of the soil solution of the highly saline soils which tend to reduce the nutrient and water uptake as well as reduce the plant root growth. Both the application of P fertilizers and the soil inoculation with either inoculum mixture or G. intraradices increased the dry weight and the height of the plants but not the tiller number. The positive effect of P application on plant growth was similar to the effect of AM inoculation. Phosphorus concentration in the plants was higher in the mycorrhizal plant compared to the non mycorrhizal ones when P was not added. On the other hand, the addition of P increased the P concentration in the plants of the non mycorrhizal plants to as high as that of the mycorrhizal plants. Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) uptake increased with AM inoculation. The addition of P had a positive effect on micronutrient uptake in soil with low level of soil P, but had a negative effect in soil with high level of soil P. Micronutrient uptake decreases with increasing soil salinity level. Inoculation with AMF decreases sodium (Na) concentration in plants grown in soil of the highest salinity level but had no effect when plants were grown in soil with moderate or low salinity level. The potassium (K) concentration was not affected by any treatment while the K/Na ratio was increased by AM inoculation only when plant were grown in soil of the highest salinity level.     

Determination of Application Effects of Sewage Sludge on Growth,Soil Properties,and N Uptake in Komatsuna by using the Indirect 15N Isotope Method

Abstract: By using the indirect ¹⁵nitrogen (N) method, the application effects of sewage sludge (SS) on growth indices, yield, and nutrient uptake in Komatsuna (Brassica campestris var. perviridis) grown in a low fertility soil were investigated and compared with those of chemical fertilizer (CF) and no‐fertilizer (NF) treatments. The N‐use efficiencies of CF and SS were 19.7% and 12.1%, respectively, of the applied N. Therefore, the relative efficiency of the sewage sludge to chemical fertilizer was 61.5%. In comparison to NF and CF, the application of SS apparently increased the soil microbial activity, which was evaluated by measuring hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate. After cultivation, the electrical conductivity (EC) of CF soil (0.175 dS m^?1) was significantly higher than those of NF (0.067 dS m^?1) and SS soils (0.057 dS m^?1). The concentrations of phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in SS leaves were significantly higher than those in CF leaves; however, the concentration of potassium (K) was significantly lower in SS than in CF.     

Carbon mineralization in saline soils as affected by residue composition and water potential

In saline soils under semi-arid climate, low matric and osmotic potential are the main stressors for microbes. But little is known about the impact of water potential (sum of matric and osmotic potential) and substrate composition on microbial activity and biomass in field collected saline soils. Three sandy loam soils with electrical conductivity of the saturated soil extract (EC_e) 3.8, 11 and 21 dS m^?1 (hereafter referred to EC3.8, EC11 and EC21) were kept at optimal water content for 14 days. After this pre-incubation, the soils were either left at optimal water content or dried to achieve water potentials of ?2.33, ?2.82, ?3.04 and ?4.04 MPa. Then, the soils were amended with 20 g?kg^?1 pea or wheat residue to increase nutrient supply. Carbon dioxide emission was measured over 14 days; microbial biomass C was measured at the end of the experiment. Cumulative respiration decreased with decreasing water potential and was significantly (P?<?0.05) lower in soils at water potential ?4 MPa than in soils at optimal water content. The effect of residue type on the response of cumulative respiration was inconsistent; with residue type having no effect in the saline soils (EC11 and EC21) whereas in the non-saline soil (EC3.8), the decrease in respiration with decreasing water potential was less with wheat than with pea residue. At a given water potential, the absolute and relative (in percentage of optimal water content) cumulative respiration was lower in the saline soils than in the non-saline soil. This can be explained by the lower osmotic potential and the smaller microbial biomass in the saline soils. However, even at a similar osmotic potential, cumulative respiration was higher in the non-saline soil. It can be concluded that high salt concentrations in the soil solution strongly reduce microbial activity even if the water content is relatively high. The stronger relative decrease in microbial activity in the saline soils at a given osmotic potential compared to the non-saline soil suggests that the small biomass in saline soils is less able to tolerate low osmotic potential. Hence, drying of soil will have a stronger negative effect on microbial activity in saline than in non-saline soils.     

Effect of phosphogypsum application and bacteria co-inoculation on biochemical properties and nutrient availability to maize plants in a saline soil

Phosphogypsum (PG), which contains Ca, P and S and has an acidic effect, may be applied to manage soil constraints such as alkalinity and salinity. For increasing nutrients bioavailability, biofertilizers are commonly applied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess PG effect either alone or in combination with the mixed co-inoculation of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on a saline soil. In a greenhouse pot experiment with maize (Zea mays L.), the inoculated and non-inoculated saline soils were treated with PG at 10 g kg^?1 (PG10), 30 g kg^?1 (PG30), and 50 g kg^?1 (PG50). The soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC_e), and macro-(NPK) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) availability to mays were examined. Applying PG reduced soil pH and co-inoculation induced significant decreases in soil EC_e. Applying PG increased significantly soil available P. Applying PG combined with co-inoculation effectively increased the soil available K. The soil available micronutrients decreased significantly with PG. However, the inoculated maize treated with PG showed significant higher dry weight (82.1–127.4%) and nutrients uptake than the control. It could be concluded that PG along with co-inoculation may be an important approach for alleviating negative effects of salinity on plant growth.     

Response of microbial activity and biomass to increasing salinity depends on the final salinity,not the original salinity

Salinization is a global land degradation issue which inhibits microbial activity and plant growth. The effect of salinity on microbial activity and biomass has been studied extensively, but little is known about the response of microbes from different soils to increasing salinity although soil salinity may fluctuate in the field, for example, depending on the quality of the irrigation water or seasonally. An incubation experiment with five soils (one non-saline, four saline with electrical conductivity (EC_e) ranging from 1 to 50 dS m⁻¹) was conducted in which the EC was increased to 37 EC_e levels (from 3 to 119 dS m⁻¹) by adding NaCl. After amendment with 2% (w/w) pea straw to provide a nutrient source, the soils were incubated at optimal water content for 15 days, microbial respiration was measured continuously and chloroform-labile C was determined every three days. Both cumulative respiration and microbial biomass (indicated by chloroform-labile C) were negatively correlated with EC. Irrespective of the original soil EC, cumulative respiration at a given adjusted EC was similar. Thus, microorganisms from previously saline soils were not more tolerant to a given adjusted EC than those in originally non-saline soil. Microbial biomass in all soils increased from day 0 to day 3, then decreased. The relative increase was greater in soils which had a lower microbial biomass on day 0 (which were more saline). Therefore the relative increase in microbial biomass appears to be a function of the biomass on day 0 rather than the EC. Hence, the results suggest that microbes from originally saline soils are not more tolerant to increases in salinity than those from originally non-saline soils. The strong increase in microbial biomass upon pea straw addition suggests that there is a subset of microbes in all soils that can respond to increased substrate availability even in highly saline environments.