Amending Clayey Saline Soil with Yellow River Sediments to Improve the Yield of Winter Wheat in the Delta of Yellow River

Abstract

【Objective】 The delta of Yellow River is characterized by soil salinity. Different methods have been proposed to remediate it, and the objective of this paper is to investigate the efficacy of amending it with Yellow River sediments in reliving the salinity and improving winter wheat yield. 【Method】 The field experiment was conducted in a saline clay soil which was amended with Yellow River sediment at rates of 0 kg/m2, 5 kg/m2, 10 kg/m2, 15 kg/m2, 20 kg/m2, 25 kg/m2, 30 kg/m2, 35 kg/m2 respectively. For each treatment, we measured the changes in saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil water content and soil salinity, as well as grain yield and yield traits. 【Result】 Soil amendment reduced the soil bulk density, with the decrease increased with the amending rate. The sediment amendment also increased the saturated hydraulic conductivity, exponentially as sediment application increased. The amendment reduced soil moisture content and salt content in the 0~40 cm of soil layer. Applying 15 kg/m2 of the sediment reduced the soil water content and salt content in the 0~20 cm and 20-40cm of soils by 16.61% and 22.89%, and 12.86% and 22.44%, respectively, compared to the control without amendment. Soil amendment also increased winter wheat yield. As the sediment application increased, the yield increased first followed by decline. Of all treatments we compared, applying 15 kg/m2 of the sediment was optimal, increasing the yield to 7 530.98 kg/hm2, a 32.78% increase over the control. 【Conclusion】 Amending the saline clay soil in the delta of the Yellow River with Yellow River sediment at a rational rate can improve soil quality and winter wheat yield. For our experiments, the optimal application rate was 15 kg/m2.

Keywords

• yellow river sediment
• clay soil
• winter wheat yield
• amendment