Saline-Sodic Soils Treated with Some Soil Amendments and Foliar Application with Compost Tea and Proline for Improvement Some Soil Properties and Yield-Water Productivity of Rice

The improvement of saline and sodic soils aims to reduce the dissolved salts in the soil solution. In this context, an integrated management approach is required, which not only improves its effectiveness in improving soil properties but also increases water productivity and yields.

To mitigate the negative effects of soil salinity, improvement of soil properties and yield –water productivity of rice plant, a field trial was carried out at El-Hamoul region, Kafer El-Sheikh, Egypt, during the summer seasons of 2019 and 2020. The experiments were conducted in split plot design, with three replicates. The main plots were assigned to soil amendments (control, compost (C) 10.0 Mg ha-1, gypsum (G) 100% from gypsum requirement 13.512 Mg ha-1 and G+C).Sub main plots were assigned to foliar application (control (tap water), compost tea (50 L ha-1), proline (3.6 g ha-1), and combination of compost tea + proilne).

Generally, results showed that the impacts of main plots were in the following order: compost + gypsum ˃ gypsum ˃ compost ˃ control in both growing seasons. Also, soil amendments had a significant effect on decreasing some soil chemical properties i.e. pH, EC, ESP and increasing of CEC compared control treatment. The treatment compost +gypsum more pronounced the other treatment on soil bulk density and total porosity. Soil basic infiltration rate (IR) and hydraulic conductivity (K) high significantly increased by application of compost, gypsum and gypsum + compost and recorded the highest value by application of compost + gypsum. Chlorophyll, proline content, 1000-grain weight, straw and grain yield of rice were significant increased and recorded the highest values due to the interaction between compost + gypsum and foliar of compost tea and proline during two growing seasons. Water productivity (WP) and productivity of irrigation water (PIW) for grain yield of rice were high significantly increased and recorded the highest values due to the interaction between soil amendments, compost tea and proline. Total return, net return, benefit cost ratio and total return from water unit for rice yield were significant increased with treatment and recorded highest values due the interaction compost + gypsum and foliar application of compost tea and proline.