A lysimeter experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of different Ca2+ concentrations in canal water for the
reclamation of saline-sodic soils with a range of textures. Calcium Sulphate (CaSO4.2H2O) was added to canal water at Ca2+
concentrations of 4 (Ca4), 8 (Ca8) and 12 (Ca12) mmolc L-1. Four pore volumes (PV) of irrigation were applied in four equal
splits. During each leaching cycle, leachates were collected and analyzed for EC and soluble ions (Na+
, K+
and Ca2+). The
maximum volume of leachates was obtained in the fourth leaching cycle at the highest Ca concentration (Ca12). The leaching
volume was affected significantly by soil texture and was the highest for the sandy clay loam (SCL) followed by sandy loam
(SL) and clay loam (CL). The treatments had an insignificant effect on the removal of salts (EC) but the SAR of leachates
was significantly affected by the treatments. The results clearly showed that increasing Ca2+ concentration in leaching
solution decreased ECe of the soil but there were no differences among Ca2+ treatments for removal of Na+
and it was
significantly higher in first leachate and gradually decreased in subsequent. The concentration of Ca2+ in leachates followed
the order of Ca12> Ca8> Ca4> Ca0 and was also affected by soil texture in the order of SCL> SL> CL. The saturated
hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) increased linearly with increasing rate of Ca applied in the leaching water and maximum Ksat
was observed for SCL soil followed by SL and CL.
Waseem Hassan, Abdul Ghafoor, Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib. (2011) Efficiency Of Ca2+ Application For The Reclamation Of Saline-sodic Soils With Different Soil Textures, , Volume-48, Issue-4.
