Interaction Effects of Leaching, Salinity, Sulfur, and Organic Matter on Physical Properties of Soil Planted With Maize Crop

Abstract

The experiment aimed to investigate the impact of mineral sulfur and organic matter addition, leaching requirements, and irrigation water salinity on the physical properties of soil cultivated with Zea mays L. (maize) plants. This study administered two organic residues (cow and alfalfa), three levels of mineral sulfur (0%, 0.8%, and 1.6%), three levels of leaching needs (15%, 25%, and 35%) more than the field capacity, and two levels of irrigation water salinity (4 dSm -1 and 8 dSm -1 ). The organic residues and mineral sulfur mixture with the soil incurred incubation for 60 days. Yellow maize (Zea mays L.) planting followed incubation, maintaining the soil moisture at field capacity fertilization, and carrying out irrigation operations according to the above treatments. Soil bulk density and mean weighted diameter measuring ensued at the end of the experiment. The results showed the ability of organic residues to reduce bulk density and increase soil stability (mean weighted diameter). The decrease in bulk density was more evident in the alfalfa residues, which amounted to 1.25 µg m -3 soil and 0.62 mm, respectively. The leaching requirement level of 35% exceeded in reducing the bulk density of soil compared with the other two levels, which amounted to 1.25 µgm-3 soil. The 1.6% sulfur and irrigation water salinity of 4 dSm -1 reduced the soil's bulk density and increased the mean weighted diameter of the soil (1.31 µgm -3 soil and 0.79 mm, respectively).