Effects of straw returning with inorganic improver on characteristics of coastal saline soil
Effects of straw returning with inorganic improver on the soil properties of coastal saline soils were assessed,and the improvement of saline-alkali soil quality was elucidated.Moderately saline soil originating from the Yellow River Delta was used as the experimental soil.The soil column test was used to study the effects of different straw-returning methods and their combination with inorganic improver on soil salinity and physicochemical properties.Straw mulching or tilling combined with inorganic improver promoted salt leaching and increased the total salt and salt ion contents in the leaching solution.Straw mulching and inorganic improver combined with straw mulching reduced salt content in the soil;the combination of straw and improver resulted in higher salt content in the leaching solution than straw mulching alone and inorganic improver alone.The soil salinity content was decreased in the soil layer from the surface to approximately 40 cm.The desalination rate was as high as 70.76%-83.94%,in soil of 0 cm to<20 cm,the soil organic matter increased by 10.96%and 11.96%,ammonium nitrogen increased by 23.77%and 24.01%,soil bulk weight decreased by 10.19%and 11.53%,percentage of water-stable agglomerates measuring 0.25 mm to<2 mm increased by 59.38%and 63.95%.In soil of 20 cm to<40 cm,the soil organic matter increased by 21.07%and 22.15%,ammonium nitrogen increased by 22.86%and 27.99%,soil bulk weight decreased by 7.20%and 8.13%,percentage of water-stable agglomerates measuring 0.25 mm to<2 mm increased by 39.54%and 32.67%.Straw mulching and tilling with the integrated use of inorganic improvers performed was effective for salt reduction and soil modification.The integrated strategy is the optimal modification technology to decrease soil salt and improve soil quality of coastal saline soils.