Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mechanism and numerical simulation of multicomponent solute transport in sodic soils reclaimed by calcium sulfate

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The mechanism for reclaiming sodic soils using calcium sulfate (CaSO4) could provide a theoretical basis for the field application of CaSO4 substitutes, including the by-products of flue gas desulfurization (BFGD), fly ash, and phosphorus gypsum. In this study, Ca2+ application experiment was conducted to analyze the dynamic changes of the cations in the reclamation of sodic soils with CaSO4. A multicomponent solute transport model (UNSATCHEM) that considers ion adsorption exchange and dynamic changes in the soil’s hydraulic conductivity was subsequently used to simulate and predict the movement of ions. The Ca2+ application experiment consisted of four treatments with four CaSO4 concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 g L−1). When the Ca2+ concentrations in the supplied water were 14.71, 22.06, and 29.41 mmol L−1, Ca2+ achieved penetration, and this process was faster when the Ca2+ concentration in the supplied water was higher. Ca2+ did not achieve penetration when the Ca2+ concentration was 7.35 mmol L−1. UNSATCHEM was able to simulate the transportation mechanism of Ca2+ and Na+ in the soil solution in the Ca2+ application experiment, the adsorption and exchange between the Na+ in the soil colloid and Ca2+ in the soil solution, and the precipitation and dissolution of CaSO4 with a high degree of accuracy. Sodic soil reclamation with CaSO4 was not a short-term process. Compared with applying CaSO4 only once, applying CaSO4 in batches decreased the accumulation of soil salts and promoted its dissolution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Basile A, Buttafuoco G, Mele G, Tedeschi A (2012) Complementary techniques to assess physical properties of a fine soil irrigated with saline water. Environ Earth Sci 66(7):1797–1807

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chun S, Nishiyama M, Matsumoto S (2001) Sodic soils reclaimed with by-product from flue gas desulphurization: corn production and soil quality. Environ Pollut 114:453–459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciftci E, Avci CB, Borekci OS, Sahin AU (2012) Assessment of advective-dispersive contaminant transport in heterogeneous aquifers using a meshless method. Environ Earth Sci 67(8):2399–2409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • David R, Dimitrios P (2002) Diffusion and cation exchange during the reclamation of saline-structured soils. Geoderma 107:271–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gharaibeh MA, Eltaif NI, Shunnar OF (2009) Leaching and reclamation of calcareous saline-sodic soil by moderately saline and moderate-SAR water using gypsum and calcium chloride. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 172:713–719

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gill JS, Sale PWG, Tang C (2008) Amelioration of dense sodic subsoil using organic amendments increases wheat yield more than using gypsum in a high rainfall zone of southern Australia. Field Crops Res 107:265–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gill JS, Sale PWG, Peries RR, Tang C (2009) Changes in soil physical properties and crop root growth in dense sodic subsoil following incorporation of organic amendments. Field Crops Res 114:137–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonçalves MC, Šimůnek J, Ramos TB, Martins JC, Neves MJ, Pires FP (2006) Multicomponent solute transport in soil lysimeters irrigated with waters of different quality. Water Resour Res 42:W08401

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta RJ, Abol IP (1990) Salt-affected soils: their reclamation and management for crop production. In: Lal R, Steward BA (eds) Advance in soil science: soil degradation. Advance in soil science, vol 11. Springer, New York, pp 223–288

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kanzari S, Hachicha M, Bouhlila R, Battle-Sales J (2012) Characterization and modeling of water movement and salts transfer in a semi-arid region of Tunisia (Bou Hajla, Kairouan)—salinization risk of soils and aquifers. Comput Electron Agric 86:34–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Q, Cui BS, Yang ZF (2009) Dynamics of the soil water and solute in the sodic saline soil in the Songnen Plain, China. Environ Earth Sci 59(4):837–845

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNeal BL (1968) Prediction of the effect of mixed-salt solutions on soil hydraulic conductivity. Proc Soil Sci Soc Am 32:190–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pandey VC, Singh K, Singh B, Singh RP (2011) New Approaches to enhance eco-restoration efficiency of degraded sodic lands: critical research needs and future prospects. Restor Ecol 29:322–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qadir M, Ghafoor A, Murtaza G (2000) Amelioration strategies for saline soils: a review. Land Degrad Dev 11:501–521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qadir M, Schubert S, Ghafoor A, Murtaza G (2001) Amelioration strategies for sodic soils: a review. Land Degrad Dev 12:357–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramos TB, Šimůnek J, Gonçalves MC, Martins JC, Prazeres A, Castanheira NL, Pereira LS (2011) Field evaluation of a multicomponent solute transport model in soils irrigated with saline waters. J Hydrol 407:129–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranjbar F, Jalali M (2011) Effects of plant residues and calcite amendments on soil sodicity. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 174:874–883

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reading LP, Baumgartl T, Bristow K L, Lockington DA (2012) Applying HYDRUS to flow in a sodic clay soil with solution composition-dependent hydraulic conductivity. Vadose Zone J 11(2) doi:10.2136/vzj2011.0137

  • Richards LA (1952) Water conducting and retaining properties of soils in relation to irrigation. In: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Desert Research, Jerusalem

  • Sahin U, Anapali O (2005) A laboratory study of the effects of water dissolved gypsum application on hydraulic conductivity of saline-sodic soil under intermittent ponding conditions. Irish J Agric Food Res 44:297–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahin U, Eroglu S, Sahin F (2011) Microbial application with gypsum increases the saturated hydraulic conductivity of saline–sodic soils. Appl Soil Ecol 48:247–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seaman JC, Chang H, Goldberg S, Šimůnek J (2012) Reactive transport modeling. Vadose Zone J 11(2) doi:10.2136/vzj2012.0066

  • Šimůnek J, Suarez DL (1997) Sodic soil reclamation using multicomponent transport modeling. J Irrigation Drainage Eng ASCE 123:367–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Šimůnek J, Suarez DL, Šejna M (1996) The UNSATCHEM software package for simulating the one-dimensional variably saturated water flow, heat transport, carbon dioxide production and transport, and multicomponent solute transport with major ion equilibrium and kinetic chemistry. Salinity Laboratory, Riverside

    Google Scholar 

  • Šimůnek J, van Genuchten MT, Šejna M (2012) HYDRUS: model use, calibration, and validation. Trans ASABE 55(4):1261–1274

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh K, Pandey VC, Singh B, Singh RR (2012a) Ecological restoration of degraded sodic lands through afforestation and cropping. Ecol Eng 43:70–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh K, Singh B, Singh RR (2012b) Changes in physico-chemical, microbial and enzymatic activities during restoration of degraded sodic lands: ecological suitability of mixed forest over plantation. Catena 96:57–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suarez DL, Šimůnek J (1997) UNSATCHEM: unsaturated water and solute transport model with equilibrium and kinetic chemistry. Soil Sci Soc Am J 61(6):1633–1646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suarez DL, Rhoades JD, Lavado R, Grieve CM (1984) Effect of pH on saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil dispersion. Soil Sci Soc Am J 48:50–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tejada M, Garcia C, Gonzalez JL, Hernandez MT (2006) Use of organic amendment as a strategy for saline soil remediation: influence on the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. Soil Biol Biochem 38:1413–1421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toride N, Leij FJ, van Genuchten MT (1995) The CXTFIT code for estimating transport parameters from laboratory or field tracer experiments, version 2.0. Research Report. 137, US Salinity Laboratory, Riverside

  • USDA (1954) Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils. USDA, US Govt Printing Office, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Visconti F, De Paz JM, Rubio JL (2012) Choice of selectivity coefficients for cation exchange using principal components analysis and bootstrap anova of coefficients of variation. Eur J Soil Sci 63:501–513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JM, Bai ZK, Yang PL (2012) Sodic soil properties and sunflower growth as affected by byproducts of flue gas desulfurization. PLoS One 7(12):e52437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JM, Bai ZK, Yang PL (2013) Effect of byproducts of flue gas desulfurization on the soluble salts composition and chemical properties of sodic soils. PLoS One 8(8):e71011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White N, Zelazny LW (1986) Charge properties in soil colloids, In: Soil Physical Chemistry, edited by Sparks DL. CRC Press, Boca Raten

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (50749032) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China (2652012072).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, 29 Xueyuanlu, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, People’s Republic of China

    Jinman Wang & Zhongke Bai

  2. Key Laboratory of Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation, Ministry of Land and Resources, Beijing, 100035, People’s Republic of China

    Jinman Wang & Zhongke Bai

  3. College of Hydraulic and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, 17 Qinghua Donglu, Haidian District, P. O. Box 57, Beijing, 100083, People’s Republic of China

    Peiling Yang

Authors
  1. Jinman Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhongke Bai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Peiling Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jinman Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, J., Bai, Z. & Yang, P. Mechanism and numerical simulation of multicomponent solute transport in sodic soils reclaimed by calcium sulfate. Environ Earth Sci 72, 157–169 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2943-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2943-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation