Abstract
Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum and straw return have been recognized for their roles in reducing soil sodicity and improving soil organic matter. However, there are few studies on the effect of their combination on improving and fertilizing sodic soil. FGD gypsum at a rate of 15 t ha−1 and three types of straw (sunflower seed shell, corn stover, and corncob crushed into straw pellets) at a rate of 7.5 t ha−1 were applied to sodic soil from 2017 to 2019, and their effects on soil salinity and sodicity, nutrient content, and water-stable aggregate fractions were observed. FGD gypsum application significantly decreased soil pH, sodium adsorption ratio, and exchangeable sodium percentage, with significant changes in NH4+-N content. After FGD gypsum treatment, the 250–2000 μm aggregate fraction increased, and the <53 μm fraction decreased, resulting in an increase in the mean weight diameter of the soil aggregates. Except for corncob straw, straw application had no significant effect on soil salinity or sodicity. Straw application increased the soil organic carbon content in 2017 and increased the inorganic nitrogen content in 2017 and 2018. Moreover, FGD gypsum and straw applications interactively affected the soil NH4+-N and NO3−-N contents. Water-stable aggregates, excluding the <53 μm fraction, were not affected by straw application. The combined application of FGD gypsum and corn stover or sunflower seed shell is a feasible option for sodic soil amelioration and can control salinity and sodicity and improve soil fertility.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Zhentao Sun, Liuhua Yang, Rongrong Tian, Mingzhu Li, and Jing Zhang of the Research Centre for Saline-Alkaline Soil Rectification and Carbon Fixation of Tsinghua University for their assistance in the experimental implementation and soil sampling and measurement.
Funding
This research was supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2019 M660682) and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFE0207202, 2016YFC0501306).
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Zhang, W., Zhao, Y., Wang, S. et al. Combined Application of Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum and Straw Pellets to Ameliorate Sodicity, Nutrient Content, and Aggregate Stability of Sodic Soil. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 21, 1806–1816 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-021-00481-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-021-00481-5