Effect of NaCl Saline Irrigation Water on Soil Salinity

Abstract

Effect of NaCl Saline Irrigation Water on Soil Salinity
Lama Hammde*
Aymn Sulieman
Abstract
Water scarcity and soil salinization are the two main common problems that affect the agricultural production in Jordan Valley, which is considered the main agricultural region in Jordan, where most areas are irrigated with saline irrigation water, particularly in the center and south region of the valley. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of NaCl irrigation water on soil salinity in a short-term experiment. Durum wheat was planted in a field with nearly half dunum area in the central region of the valley on 29th of December 2017 and harvested on the second of April 2018. Three salinity levels (S) (S1 2 (the control), S2 4, and S3 8 dS/m) with three irrigation amounts (R) of readily available water (RAW) (R1 120%RAW (control), R2 100%RAW, and R3 70% RAW) were used in the field experiment. Calcium, magnesium, and sodium concentration were measured once before planting and once after harvesting, soil electrical conductivity of saturated paste extract (ECe) and pH were measured every three weeks during the growing season. The results showed that the soil salinity in terms of (ECe) has increased gradually during the growing season, the final ECe has increased from an average of 0.96 ± 0.02 dS/m in the control to an average of 7.91 ± 0.48 dS/m in the most stressed treatment (S3R3) at 10 cm depth of the study area. Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) has increased from 0.83 ± 0.03 in the control to 21.87 ± 2.41 in the most stressed treatment (S3R3), calcium, magnesium, and pH has decreased slightly when compared with the control.
Keywords: Jordan Valley, saline-sodic irrigation water, soil salinity and sodicity.