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Desalting effect of flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) on coastal saline-sodic soil with different textures

  • Soils, Sec 3 • Remediation and Management of Contaminated or Degraded Lands • Research Article
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Soil salinization is a major obstacle to the development and utilization of land resources in coastal areas. The purpose of the study is to explore the desalting effect of flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) on coastal saline-sodic soils by evaluating changes of soil chemical properties (soluble ions, exchangeable cations, and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP)), plant growth, and heavy metal contents under field conditions.

Materials and methods

A 1-year field experiment was carried out in two typical textures of saline-sodic soils in the east China coastal area. The soil textures were silty loam and clay and five rates of FGDG (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 Mg·ha−1) were applied to sodic fulvisols (siltic) and spolic technosol (clayic).

Results and discussion

The experiments showed that the chemical properties were effectively improved by FGDG on the topsoil (0–30 cm) of two different texture saline-sodic soils, and desalting effects (ESP < 15%) could be reached within 1 year in different patterns. For sodic fulvisols (siltic), soluble ions, exchangeable cations and ESP linearly changed with FGDG increases, and root length and biomass of Salix integra were increased too. For spolic technosol (clayic), although the chemical indicators and ESP of topsoil could be improved at low FGDG rate, growth of roots was still restricted even at higher FGDG amounts. The experiments also showed that there was no ecological risk of heavy metals for FGDG application.

Conclusions

FGDG is performed as an eco-friendly amendment for the desalination of coastal saline-sodic soil. An appropriate amount of FGDG application needs to consider soil types and properties.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Tara Penner, MSc, from Liwen Bianji (Edanz) (www.liwenbianji.cn/), for editing the English text of a draft of this manuscript.

Funding

This research was supported by the National Public Project of Environmental Protection (No. 201109023), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31901207), and “Training Program for Young and Middle-aged Teachers” of Shanghai Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry (No. A2-0273–20-02).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry, Shanghai, 201699, People’s Republic of China

    Yumei Mao

  2. East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaoping Li

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  1. Yumei Mao
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Correspondence to Yumei Mao.

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Mao, Y., Li, X. Desalting effect of flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) on coastal saline-sodic soil with different textures. J Soils Sediments 23, 765–776 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-022-03344-3

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