Reclamation of Sodic-Affected Soils

Sodic soils conditions increase the erodibility and reduce the productivity of soils. Many soils in arid to bumid regions have unstable structures which make them difficult to manage, owing to their tendency to swell and disperse. The extent of swelling and dispersion of clays depends on the clay mineralogy, the composition of the adsorbed ions and the salt concentration in solution. In order to reduce runoff and erosion in sodic soils, reclamation is a common practice. Surface runoff from a deep-silt-loam loess soil at two ESP values and the beneficial effect of PG were studied in field plots under natural rainfall conditions. Gypsum is the most commonly used amendment for sodic soil reclamation and for reducing the harmful effects of high-sodium irrigation waters because of its solubility, low cost, and availability. The benefit of an amendment for reclaiming saline-sodic soils depends primarily on the infiltration characteristics of the soil.