Saline–Alkaline Characteristics during Desalination Process and Nitrogen Input Regulation in Reclaimed Tidal Flat Soils

Yunpeng Sun, Xin Zhang, Jingtian Xian, Jingsong Yang (), Xiaobing Chen (), Rongjiang Yao, Yongming Luo, Xiangping Wang, Wenping Xie and Dan Cao
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Yunpeng Sun: State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
Xin Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
Jingtian Xian: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Restoration, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
Jingsong Yang: State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
Xiaobing Chen: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Restoration, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
Rongjiang Yao: State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
Yongming Luo: State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
Xiangping Wang: State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
Wenping Xie: State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
Dan Cao: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Restoration, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: Coastal salt-affected soils account for a large area all around the world. Soil salinity and pH are two important parameters affecting soil quality. Investigating the correlation of electrical conductivity (EC) and pH at different soil depths in saline soil was useful for quickly assessing the saline–alkaline characteristics. During the natural desalination process in the field area of reclaimed lands, the phenomena of pH increase and nitrogen accumulation may occur. A field sampling experiment was conducted in slightly saline soil affected by natural desalination and newly reclaimed heavily saline soil. A series of soil–water ratio extracts consisting of 1:2.5, 1:5, 1:10, 1:20, and 1:40 was designed to measure the EC and pH for simulating the saline–alkaline characteristics during the soil desalination process. Meanwhile, for reasonable utilization of the naturally ameliorated slightly saline soil which consists of a high content of nitrogen, a plastic mulching (PM) accompanied with nitrogen (N) fertilizer addition experiment in maize cultivation plots was designed. Results showed that a significant correlation of EC and/or pH existed in all ratios of soil extracts, and the slightly saline soil had a higher nitrogen content (1.06 g kg −1 ). The EC was negatively correlated with pH at a depth of 0~100 cm in the coastal saline soil, which indicated the increase of pH value and alkalization during its natural desalination. Furthermore, PM treatments showed no significant difference with N treatments in soil bulk density and soil water content in the slightly saline soil. The PM and N treatments obtained similar grain yield, which was between 6.2 and 6.5 t ha −1 . The soil salinity decreased in all treatments and the harvest index was largest in PM treated plots. Our study was beneficial for rapidly monitoring saline–alkaline characteristics and sustainable utilization of coastal saline soil resources. In addition, we should focus far more on pH improvement during the desalination process and rational utilization of chemical fertilizer for obtaining sustainable benefits in the coastal saline soil.

Keywords: salinity; pH; desalination; nitrogen; saline soil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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