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Effect of organic materials on the chemical properties of saline soil in the Yellow River Delta of China

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Abstract

A 180-day incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different organic materials on the chemical properties of coastal soil with high salinity and relatively low pH. Four organic materials (three kinds of plant residues: straw, composted straw, and fresh reed; and one kind of poultry manure: chicken manure) were applied at a ratio of 15 g·kg−1 to samples of costal saline soil from the Yellow River Delta of China. The results showed that the soil pH and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) decreased, whereas soil cation exchangeable capacity (CEC) and macronutrient concentrations increased, regardless of the type of organic material used. All treatments showed a remarkable increase in soil soluble organic carbon (SOC) during the 180-day incubation. The peak values of SOC in descending order were chicken manure, reed, composted straw, straw, and control soil. At the end of incubation, the highest level of SOC occurred in the straw-amended soil, followed by composted straw, reed, and chicken manureamended soils. Soil respiration rate and available nitrogen were significantly influenced by the type of material used. Although reed-amended soil had a relatively high SOC and respiration rate, the ESP was reduced the least. Considering the possible risk of heavy metals caused by chicken manure, it is proposed that straw and composted straw are the more efficient materials to use for reclaiming costal saline soil and improving the availability of macronutrients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China

    Yan Yu, Chunmeng Liu, Shuang Zong & Zhaohua Lu

  2. Transport Planning and Research Institute, Ministry of Transport, Beijing, 100028, China

    Jie Liu

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  1. Yan Yu
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  2. Jie Liu
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  3. Chunmeng Liu
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  4. Shuang Zong
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  5. Zhaohua Lu
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Correspondence to Yan Yu.

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Yu, Y., Liu, J., Liu, C. et al. Effect of organic materials on the chemical properties of saline soil in the Yellow River Delta of China. Front. Earth Sci. 9, 259–267 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-014-0463-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-014-0463-6

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