Abstract
Gypsum particles (5-16, 16-25, 25-60, 60-100 and finer than 100 mesh) @ 100Z GR of 0-15 cm soil columns and four synthetic waters (Er 0.6 + SAR 6, EC 1.0 SAR 12, EC 2.0 -I- SAR 18 and EC 4.0 + SAR 30), in all possible combinations, were used for reclaiming a loamy clay saline-sodic soil in a laboratory experiment. The results indicated that the time to start leaching decreased with increasing fineness of gypsum particles and/or brackishness of synthetic waters. Under continuous submergence at 2622 *C total volume of water leached through 30 cm soil columns (BD 1.33 g cc) increased as the gypsum particle size decreased and/or as brackishness of water increased. The removal of soluble salts (me treatment),' mg of soluble Na and Ca increased wit'L increasing the fineness of gypsum. Rate of removal of the solutes in leachate was much higher for the gypsum treatments than the control but decreased with time
INTRODUCTION
The water intake rate may be very low, and even negligible. of the dispersed sodic and saline-sod is soils particularly during initial stage of reclamation. The amelioration of such soils involves application of amendments containing soluble Ca or those which release calcium from 7.aCC13 in calcareous soil. The reaction of calcium with the
