Gypsum amendment influences performance and mineral absorption in wheat cultivars grown in normal and saline‐sodic soils

Abstract

In arid and semi‐arid regions, soil salinity and sodicity are the most common constraints to agriculture production, in particular in North Africa. The effect of gypsum application has been widely studied in saline‐sodic soils. However, the gypsum amendment's influence on the performance, productivity and mineral absorption of salt‐sensitive and tolerant wheat cultivars in both saline‐sodic and normal soils under field conditions has not yet been investigated. A two‐season (2016–17 and 2017–18) field experiment was undertaken to investigate the impact of gypsum on wheat growth, yield and minerals uptake for salt‐tolerant and sensitive cultivars grown in normal (EC = 1.3 dS m−1, pH = 8.4 and ESP = 7.1–8.0%) and saline‐sodic soils (EC = 5.8–6.2 dS m−1, pH = 8.8 and ESP = 19.3–22.4%) in the western Nile delta, Egypt. The gypsum requirement was applied to decrease the initial ESP from 19.3–22.4 to 10.0% was calculated for 0.3 m soil depth. Gypsum application (6.0 and 4.7 ton ha1, for the first and second season, respectively) reduced soil pH, EC and ESP of saline‐sodic soil by 31.6, 7.3 and 39.0%, respectively (two‐season mean). Furthermore, gypsum application increased Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ in the flag leaf by 54.7, 24.5 and 45.7%, respectively (2‐season mean) under saline‐sodic soil. While, in the normal soil, gypsum application increased Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ by 67.3, 32.7 and 78.7%, respectively. In contrast, gypsum applications decreased Na+ and Cl− content by 17.2 and 15.0% and by 40.0 and 35.5%, respectively, in the saline‐sodic and normal soil, respectively. Under saline‐sodic and normal soils, gypsum application significantly increased the K/Na ratio by 90.0 and 175.2%, respectively (2‐season mean). Interestingly, across cultivars, gypsum amendment increased grain yield by 20.7% (6.9 to 8.3 t ha−1) for normal soil and by 8.0% (5.8 to 6.3 t ha−1) for saline‐sodic soil. The positive impact of gypsum was more pronounced under the normal soil and for the salt‐sensitive cultivars than in saline‐sodic soil and for salt‐tolerant cultivars. Growers can cultivate salt‐tolerant cultivars and use gypsum as a precaution to reduce saline‐sodicity build‐up and to increase nutrient absorption.

Interactions between flue gas desulfurization gypsum and biochar on water infiltration characteristics and physicochemical properties of saline-alkaline soil

“…In this study, a single or combined application of FGDG led to a reduction in the soil pH, which is consistent with the previous studies (Goncalo et al, 2020 ; Zhang et al, 2020a , b ; Wang et al, 2021 ; Morsy et al, 2022 ), and the mechanism is as follows (Koralegedara et al, 2019 ): …”

“…It is now widely accepted that the application of FGDG to saline-alkali soils can provide a high concentration of Ca 2+ ions that replace Na + ions on soil colloids. This can enhance soil fertility and crop yield as well as improve the soil structure, decrease soil pH, and reduce salinity levels (Morsy et al, 2022 ; Murtaza et al, 2017 ; Qadir et al, 2022 ; Temiz & Cayci, 2018 ; Zhang et al, 2020a , b ; Zhao et al, 2018 ; Zhu et al, 2020 ). However, the quantity, timing, and mode of FGDG application can vary depending on the soil type, the type of crop variety, the prevailing agro-climatic conditions, and the type of available FGDG (Wang & Yang, 2018 ).…”

Hyperspectral reflectance and agro-physiological traits for field identification of salt-tolerant wheat genotypes using the genotype by yield*trait biplot technique

“…It impacts more than 20%–40% of irrigated land ( Ghonaim et al., 2021 ; Quamruzzaman et al., 2022 ). About 33% of the cropping area in Egypt is affected by salinity ( Stavi et al., 2021 ; Morsy et al., 2022 ). Salinization is caused by either natural conditions (climate change) or human activities (anthropogenic, such as irrigation misuse) ( Shabala et al., 2014 ; Stavi et al., 2021 ; Morsy et al., 2022 ).…”

“…About 33% of the cropping area in Egypt is affected by salinity ( Stavi et al., 2021 ; Morsy et al., 2022 ). Salinization is caused by either natural conditions (climate change) or human activities (anthropogenic, such as irrigation misuse) ( Shabala et al., 2014 ; Stavi et al., 2021 ; Morsy et al., 2022 ). Reusing about 10 billion m 3 of drainage water is considered a salinization source to increase soil salinity and reflects the limited water resources in Egypt ( Mohamed, 2017 ).…”

“…Reusing about 10 billion m 3 of drainage water is considered a salinization source to increase soil salinity and reflects the limited water resources in Egypt ( Mohamed, 2017 ). Hence, salinity is coped with through either crop environment management or crop improvement (breeding) ( Rady et al., 2016 ; Alharbi et al., 2021 ; Morsy et al., 2022 ).…”