Changes in physical and chemical properties of saline soil amended with
municipal solid waste compost and chemical fertilizers in a
mustard--pearl millet cropping system
Abstract
Soil salinity is a serious threat in arid and semi-aridagro-ecosystem of
India,which is directly influenced the soil physical properties.
Therefore, understanding the dynamic nature of salinity is key to
implement suitable management practices for improving the fertility of
saline soils. In this context, field experiments were conducted in
saline soil, comprising five treatments of control (no amendments and
chemical fertilizer), recommended dose nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium (N-P-K) fertilizers @ 60:30:30 kg ha-1 (100 % RDF), rice
straw compost (RSC) @ 14 Mg ha-1, gypsum enriched compost (GEC) @ 14 Mg
ha-1, and municipal solid waste compost @16 Mg ha-1 (MSWC) for three
consecutive years (2012 to 2015). Results revealed that composts and
chemical fertilizer application in saline soil had brought significant
improvement in soil organic carbon (SOC), soil aggregate stability
indices, soil water retention, transmission characteristics, and pore
size distribution. This improvement in soil physical properties imparted
into better soil physical environment and significant reduction in soil
salinity (75%) was reported with application of MSWC. Multivariate
analysis indicated that mean weight diameter (MWD) and retension pores
(RP) were the main two soil physical properties that help to reduce soil
salinity. Improved soil environment in compost amendated treatments
broght significantly higher grain yield of mustard and pearl millet was
observed with MSWC as compared to control. Organic amendments
significantly improved the soil physical environment.