Aridity and salinity limit sustainable biomass production and agricultural practices in desert areas. The capability of halophytes plantation with wind deposits containing around 10% gypsum was evaluated for reclamation of saline soil and its effect on the production of Sorghum bicolar L., in an arid area. Two substance treatments at concentrations of 25 and 50 ton ha-1 gypsum and wind deposits at levels of 85 and 170 ton ha-1 were applied. Biological treatments were applied using halophyte plantation as a pioneer species. Sorghum was cultivated for all substance treatments and the production of sorghum was determined for the different treatments. Results indicated that the method leads to a reduction of salinity from 139 to <4 dS m-1 and SAR declined from 129.6 to 6.2 after a period of 15 months. The performance of wind deposits used in these experiments was higher than pure gypsum to reclaim saline soils. Maximum production of sorghum has been obtained by the treatment of 85 ton ha-1 wind deposit. Results indicated land reclamation and biomass production of forage seems possible when using wind deposit in the study area and therefore the wind deposit can effectively be used for reclamation of saline soil and plant production in arid environments.
Keywords: Salinity; Yazd; forage production; gypsum; halophytes; wind erosion.
This study evaluated the efficiency and environmental benefits of halophyte plantations incorporated with wind deposits resulting from wind erosion for saline-sodic soil reclamation. This approach illustrated the capability of the method as an eco-friendly and inexpensive method for biomass production in arid regions for the first time. The appropriate halophyte plants and optimum amount of wind deposit were evaluated in comparison to gypsum amendment for saline-sodic soil reclamation and biomass production.