Abstract
Many studies have reported the advantages of alternative agricultural practices using more environmentally-friendly products to ameliorate the negative impacts of salinity and sodicity, but few have examined the effects of these products in saline-sodic soils with high soil organic matter (SOM) content. The objective of this research was to examine the effect of biostimulant (Actiwave) and organic amendment (Corresal Plus) product on soil properties and on the nutrient content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). A pot study with a calcareous saline-sodic soil was conducted using a completely randomized design with six treatments: Two rates of the biostimulant (ActA: 10 l ha−1 and ActB: 15 l ha−1), three rates of the amendment (CorA: 10 l ha−1, CorB: 15 l ha−1 and CorC: 50 l ha−1) and a control treatment. The application of Actiwave reduced soil electrical conductivity (E.C.), soil exchangeable Na and soluble Cl. It also increased leaf N and Zn content. On the other hand, the higher dose of Corresal Plus reduced soil pH and soil exchangeable Na and increased soil NO3-N. Additionally, CorC treatment decreased leaf Cl and increased leaf N content enhancing lettuce growth.. However, in most cases, the two products did not provoke significant changes indicating that their positive effects were probably masked by the high SOM content and the calcareous nature of the studied soil.
Highlights
Salinity-sodicity is among the most widespread soil degradation processes on Earth [1]
In most cases, the two products did not provoke significant changes indicating that their positive effects were probably masked by the high soil organic matter (SOM) content and the calcareous nature of the studied soil
Soil pH values were slightly increased by the application of ActA and ActB and by the lower organic amendment additions (CorA, CorB) but showed a significant decrease in CorC amended pots (Figure 1A)
Summary
Salinity-sodicity is among the most widespread soil degradation processes on Earth [1]. In the Mediterranean region, 25% of irrigated agricultural land is affected by salinization leading soil degradation [2]. Salt stress adversely affects physical and chemical properties of soil, microbiological processes, and plant growth [3,4,5]. Excessive salts cause two major stresses: Osmotic and ionic [2,6]. High salt accumulation lowers osmotic potential between plant cells and soil solution while reducing water movement inside the plant [7,8,9]. At the same time excess amounts of Na, cause phenomena like slaking, swelling, and dispersion of soil aggregates [2,5]
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