Combating Deterioration in Salt-Affected Soil in Egypt by Crop Rotations

Abstract

Crop rotation can be used as a technique to save on the applied water, improve soil fertility and combat soil deterioration under current climate and under climate change. Five crops rotations were suggested to be implemented in salt-affected soil in the North Nile Delta of Egypt. The selected crops for these rotations are either salinity tolerant, or tolerant cultivars were selected from sensitive or medium tolerant crops. Precise land leveling and cultivation on raised beds were suggested to save 25 % of the applied water to surface irrigation. Furthermore, three-crop sequence and intercropping systems were also used. Total water requirements for each rotation were calculated using 30 year climate normals and in 2030 under climate change. The results indicated that total water requirements for the suggested crop rotations will increase under climate change in 2030, in addition to more water will need to be applied as leaching requirements for the cultivated crops in salt-affected soils. Thus, using the management package resulted in applying less water to the suggested rotations in 2030, compared to the applied water to these rotations under present climate and surface irrigation. The saved irrigation amounts can be used as leaching requirements under climate change.