Effect of mulching brackish ice in winter ameliorating coastal saline soils
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    Abstract:

    Seasonal variation of salinity is typical of coastal saline soils. High water table and high salinity of the groundwater are considered to be the main cause of salt accumulation in the soil in winter and spring. Fortunately, an agro-ecosystem consisting of raised-beds and shallow pools is expected to be able to solve this dilemma. Raised-beds are built to lower ground water table, and shallow pools provide in winter brackish ice that can be used to mulch the fields. The mulching of brackish ice melts, leaching salt off from raised-beds, thus preventing surfacing of salt. In the experiment, to control melting speed of the ice, three treatments were designed, i.e. no mulching over on the ice layer, mulching with reed straw and mulching with non-woven fabrics. Variations of water content and salinity in the soil of the raised-beds were monitored, before and after melting of the ice and during the process of melting in the experiment. Results show that mulching with brackish water can not only inhibit accumulation of salt, but also decrease salinity and increase water content of the soil. In the treatment of no mulching on ice, the ice melted quickly, raising soil water content quickly in a short time, so its desalinizing effect was notable but not lasting. The treatment of mulching the ice with reed straw reduced evaporation of ice water, and deferred ice melting, thus prolonging desalinizing time. Compared with the foregoing treatment, the treatment of mulching with non-woven fabrics displayed a proper ice melting rate and the best desalinizing effect. In the three treatments at the time the ice mulching completely melted, the water content in the 0~20 cm soil layer increased by 44.5%, 42.8% and 68.5%, respectively, as against that in the soil without ice mulching and the desalinization rate reached 44.4%, 47.0% and 72.4%, respectively. The improvements in soil moisture and soil salinity create a suitable soil environment for crops, and provide a guarantee for successful implementation of follow-up amelioration of coastal saline soils.

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Lin Yebin, Gu Wei, Xu Yingjun, Tao Jun, Bu Danyang. Effect of mulching brackish ice in winter ameliorating coastal saline soils[J]. Acta Pedologica Sinica,2012,49(1):18-25.

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History
  • Received:September 19,2010
  • Revised:June 04,2011
  • Adopted:June 24,2011
  • Online: October 25,2011
  • Published: