Biosolids application to salt affected soils: its effects on soil organic matter, microbial biomass and sodicity

摘要

Extensive areas in arid and semi arid regions around the world are salt affected. Both soil salinity and sodicity directly and indirectly affect plant growth and survival. With their characteristic low organic matter contents, sodic soils have encouraged researchers around the world to investigate possible alternative organic ameliorants which could increase soil organic matter and hence improve soil structural properties to an extent that can lead to desodification. As a result, organic matter ameliorants ranging from cottage cheese whey to green manure or pig bedding litter have been explored some with greater success than others. This study investigates the possibility of dry and wet biosolids as ameliorants improving the soil organic matter contents and its influence in reducing sodicity.