Polysaccharides in molasses meal as an ameliorant for saline-sodic soils compared to other reclamation agents

Weber, Herbert; Rooyen, P. C. Van

doi:10.1016/0016-7061(71)90056-5

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…Climate is semi-arid (rainfall = 238 mm and class A pan evaporation = 2 090 mm per annum) ana is described in more detail by Weber and van Rooyen (1971). The experimental soil is chemically and physically typical of those under irrigation in the region.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of level and timing of irrigation on growth and water use of lucerne

Beukes¹,

Barnard²

1985

South African Journal of Plant and Soil

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A six-year flood irrigation trial with lucerne (Medicago sativa cv. Karoo) was conducted on a sandy loam soil in the south-western part of the Cape Province at Oudtshoorn. Two cropping practices, whereby one or two forage cuttings are followed by a seeding period, were investigated. The treatments comprised the application of 90, 135 and 180 mm (50 -100% PAW) of water, as well as the same amounts, but in two equal parts, during a production period.Seasonal evapotranspiration (ET) varied from 382 to 668 mm, depending on the amount of irrigation per application. The halving of applications and doubling of irrigation frequency, did not increase ET above that of the full applications. Mean seasonal crop factors (ET/Ep) ranged from 0,40 to 0,70 for different levels of irrigation with a peak of 0,99 during the first forage period for a 180 mm application. Forage yields per unit area increased with an increase in irrigation level. The halving of applications also led to an increase in yield. Larger forage yields were obtained during the second than during the first production period. Growth rate of lucerne was enhanced remarkably at high irrigation levels, or when half-quantity irrigations at double the frequency were applied. Water use efficiency was highest for those treatments comprising of the smallest applications and the highest irrigation frequency. Seed yield was higher when less water was applied. Seed production was also increased when irrigation was applied in two parts. Afr. J. Plant Soil 1985, 2: 197 -202 Lusern (Medicago sativa cv. Karoo) is vir ses jaar onder vloedbesproeiing verbou op 'n sandleemgrond in Suidwes-Kaapland by Oudtshoorn. Twee oesmetodes, waar een of twee hooi-oeste gevolg word deur een saadoes, is ondersoek. Tweedens het die behandelings bestaan uit die toediening van 90, 135 en 180 mm (50 -100% PBW) water, sowel as dieselfde hoeveelhede, maar in twee gelyke dele, gedurende 'n produksieperiode. Afhangende van die besproeiingshoeveelheid, het seisoenale evapotranspirasie (ET) gewissel van 382 tot 668 mm. Die korter besproeiingsfrekwens van die gehalveerde toedienings het nie ET verhoog nie. Gewasfaktore (ET/Ep) het gevarieer van 0,40 tot 0,70 met 'n piek van 0,99 gedurende die eerste hooiproduksieperiode vir 'n 180 mmtoediening. Hooi-opbrengste per eenheidsoppervlakte het toegeneem met 'n verhoging ih die besproeiingspeile. Die gehalveerde toedienings het ook opbrengste verhoog. Die groeitempo van lusern is grootliks versnel by hoe besproeiingspeile, of wanneer toedienings gehalveer is. Die beste effektiwiteit van waterverbruik is verkry by die kleinste toedienings en die hoogste besproeiingsfrekwens. Die hoogste saadproduksie is by die laagste besproeiingspeil verkry. Saadopbrengs is ook verhoog wanneer besproeiing in twee dele toegedien is. S.S.-Afr. Tydskr. Plant Grand 1985, 2: 197 -202

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of level and timing of irrigation on growth and water use of lucerne

Beukes¹,

Barnard²

1985

South African Journal of Plant and Soil

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“…Nine treatments and combinations of treatments were tested, because diferent ones of them had been found to be efective by inter alia Green and Stott [22]; Stern et al [7]; Stern et al [5] or Weber and van Rooyen [20]. Te rates of ameliorants applied are given in Table 1.…”

Section: Treatmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Data from cultivated agriculture consequently had to be used to identify ameliorants which could be evaluated for potential alleviation of soil crusting and reclamation of bare areas in wildlife areas. Products which have previously been studied in South Africa as ameliorants for sodic and crusted soils in cultivated agriculture include the following: (i) Anionic polyacrylamide (PAM), also known as Superfoc [5][6][7][8]19] (ii) Gypsum (CaSO 4 .2H 2 O) or phosphogypsum, an industrial byproduct [4][5][6][7][8]20] (iii) Molasses meal, a byproduct from the sugar industry [20] (iv) Coal-derived humic products [4,19,21] (v) Compost [19] (vi) Mulching [5,6,8] Anionic PAM is a water-soluble polymer which has the dual capability to create soil structure by focculating soil colloids and improve structure stability by bonding particles together (Mamedov et al, 2010). It is the only ameliorant on the list which can perform both these.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Being high in polysaccharides, it is an excellent energy source for soil microbes [23]. Application of molasses meal thus stimulates high microbial activity, producing mycelia which bind soil particles into peds with high aggregate stability [20]. Compost is partly decomposed organic matter, which is further decomposed into humus by soil organisms after application, contributing to formation of stable soil structure [24,25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of the others, PAM, gypsum, and molasses meal were selected for the present study. Weber and van Rooyen [20] found a combination of gypsum and molasses meal to be efective for reclamation of sodic soils, while they were individually not. Stern [6] had success with PAM and gypsum.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantifying the Effect of Soil Ameliorants on Soil Crusting by Means of Field Experiments in a Wildlife Protected Area, South Africa

Human,

Nortjé,

Laker

2024

Applied and Environmental Soil Science

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Soil crusting (surface sealing) is widespread and serious in ecotouristic game parks and reserves in southern Africa, and especially South Africa. In this study, mineral soil crusts were found to be the problem in the Dinokeng Game Reserve (DGR), South Africa. Large areas of bare soil crusted areas were found in this reserve. The cause of this crusting was found to be historical agricultural practices such as cultivation with maize on non-arable soils and overgrazing by cattle. Negative impacts of soil crusting include reduction of water infiltration, leading to increased runoff and erosion and induced drought; inhibiting soil aeration; inhibiting germination and seedling emergence; and inhibiting root functioning and development. In this study in the DGR, a bare crusted area, where cultivation was abandoned 50 years before and there has been no recovery to rangeland since then, was selected for a field trial to determine the effectiveness of the application of various soil ameliorants on soil crust alleviation and improvement of water infiltration rate. The following ameliorants were evaluated: polyacrylamide (PAM) at levels of 5 and 20 kg/ha, gypsum at 2.5 t/ha, and molasses meal at 5 t/ha, as well as combinations of PAM and molasses meal, PAM and gypsum and gypsum and molasses meal. Brush packing, without any ameliorant applied, was also included as treatment, as well as a control with no treatments. PAM treatments increased final infiltration rate (FIR) by between 100–206%. The high efficacy of the lowest PAM treatment is at a cost of only USD 15 per hectare economically important. On the studied soil gypsum application reduced FIR by 81%, while molasses meal had minimal effect. These ameliorants can therefore not be recommended on such soil.

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