Effectiveness of Humic Acid Applicationin Improving Saline Soil Properties and Fodder Beet Production

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out at Bahr Hadous drain and El-Salam canal locations in Sahl El-Hossinia , El-Sharkia -Governorate, Egypt, for winter seasons of 2014/2015 and 2015/2016, to study the effect of humic acid application on some physical and chemical soil properties and fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) productivity and quality in saline soil conditions irrigated with different water sources i.e. [Bahr Hadoos drainage water and Nile water from El-Salam canal mixed with agricultural drainage (1:1)].The obtained results show a noticeable reduction in soil pH and salinity as a result of treating the soil with humic acid compared to control. The effect is more obvious in case of applying humic acid high rate of (2400 ml/400 L water,T 4 ) irrigated with El-Salam canal water than Baher Hados drain water .The soil O.M content and cation exchange capacity values were improved by applying humic acid high rate where soil OM content reached 0.80 and 0.73 % in case of using El-Salam canal and Baher Hados drain water compared with 0.63 and 0.55 % for control treatment, respectively. The highest diameter of dry aggregates was affected by the application of humic acid high rate with El-Salam canal water than Baher Hados drain water .Moreover, the maximum values of total stable aggregates were obtained in case ofhumic acid high rate using El-Salam canal water compared to Baher Hados drain water and control treatments. The data also show that the values of hydraulic conductivity were lowand increased by humic acid application. The highest value of hydraulic conductivity was obtained in case of applying humic acid high rate using El-Salam canal water than Baher Hados drain watercompared to control treatment. Applying humic acid high rate decreased the soil bulk density and increased total soil porosity valuesusingEl-Salam canal water as compared to Baher Hados drain water and control treatments. The maximum values of field capacity and available water were recordedin case of applying humic acid high rate using El-Salam canal than Baher Hados drain water compared to control. The result show an increase in fodder beet yield in all treatments compared to control and was higher in the case of humic acid high rate with El-Salam canal than Baher Hados drain water. Generally, the study recommends using humic acid (2400 ml/400 L water,T 4 ) with El-Salam canal or Baher Hados drain which improves soil chemical and physical properties and thus increases the productivity of saline soil.

Effect of Humic Amendment on Selected Hydrophysical Properties of Sandy and Clayey Soils

“…The organic fraction in the soil has a lower density than the mineral fraction. In this context, an increase in the amount of the organic fraction is manifested by a decrease in the total weight and dry bulk density of the soil [40].…”

“…Commercially available humic acid products, generated from Leonardite (a brown coal precursor) as sodium or potassium salts, have been recognized for altering soil solids' surface chemistry and improving soil fertility [36]. Humic compounds offer a range of benefits, including enhanced biological activity, nutrient availability, cation exchange capacity, pH buffering, carbon sequestration, and soil-water relations [37][38][39][40]. Their capacity to promote plant stress tolerance by influencing hormonelike effects and micro-organism activity has also been noted [41][42][43].…”

Impact of Bio and Organic Adamants and Per-sowing Seeds Magnetic Field Together with Mineral Nitrogen Fertilizer on Some Soil Physical and Chemical Properties and Faba Bean Productivity under Saline Soil Conditions

“…"Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are key nutrients that play a major role in crop production on intensively cultivated soils. The soil fertility is directly influenced by the type of fertilizer inputs" [1,3,4,6,7,31].…”