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Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands
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Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Water".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 71899

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiaobing Chen

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
Interests: coupled processes of soil water, salts and nutrients and their optimal management; agricultural water and nutrient management in salt-prone areas
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Jingsong Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
Interests: salt-affected soils; water salt regime regulation; soil fertility improvement; salinization prevention and control; saline-alkaline land
Prof. Dr. Dongli She

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
College of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Interests: soil hydrological process; soil and water conservation; saline-alkali land degradation and reclamation; water flow and salt transport; nitrogen cycling in saline agroecosystem
Prof. Dr. Weifeng Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, China
Interests: saline-alkali soils; coastal wetlands; ecological remediation; soil carbon sequestration; marginal-quality water utilization; salt-tolerant plant and crops
Prof. Dr. Jingwei Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
Interests: agricultural drainage; soil salinity control; groundwater and soil hydrology
Prof. Dr. Yi Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
Interests: soil acidification and salinization; agricultural non-point source pollution; agricultural productivity; ecological service function
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Min Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
Interests: utilization of brackish water; freshwater saving strategy in saline-alkali lands; saline-alkali lands improvement and utilization; halophytes; salt tolerance mechanisms of plants
Prof. Dr. Yuyi Li

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning (IARRP) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
Interests: saline-alkali; straw/sand barrier; water and salt transport; deep organic carbon in salinized soil; productivity improvement; microbial regulation
Dr. Asad Sarwar Qureshi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), P.O.Box. 14660, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Interests: salinity management; soil reclamation; water management; water productivity; marginal environments
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Anshuman Singh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ICAR - Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow 226101, India
Interests: salinity management; poor quality waters; salt stress; genetic variation for salt tolerance; horticulture; horticultural biodiversity
Prof. Dr. Edivan Rodrigues De Souza

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Agronomy Department, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife 52171-900, Brazil
Interests: soil salinity; ecophysiology; abiotic stress; drought; soil moisture; water potential; leaf gas exchange

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Salt-affected soils are present in nearly every irrigated area of the world and also occur on non-irrigated croplands and rangelands. Thus, virtually no land is immune to salinization. Therefore, to sustain life on earth, it is vital and urgent to control these problems and find innovative and comprehensive ways to use these extensive salt-affected soils and marginal water resources, at least for agricultural purposes. Reclamation, or at least minimization of the effect of salinity and/or sodicity, is important and necessary. In this respect, the proper use of water for both plant growth and soil salinity and sodicity control is probably of the greatest importance. The majority of existing literature commonly concentrates on water and salt regimes and processes at field scale, but few on soil carbon and nutrient cycling, which has aroused considerable debate over how to translate water and salt regime regulation into sustainable utilization and development in saline-alkaline land. The Special Issue will link between water and salt regimes, carbon and nutrient cycling, and fertility improvement, and focus on soil, water, and salt and associated agricultural and ecological issues in coastal saline-alkaline land. The purposes of the Special Issue are to (i) elucidate the mechanisms of water and salt regimes intervening with carbon and nutrient cycling in coastal saline-alkaline soils; (ii) evaluate water and salt effects on agricultural productivity and ecological service function (i.e., water pollution) in coastal saline-alkaline land; and (iii) bridge knowledge gaps and research needed to translate water and salt regulation into agricultural productivity and ecological service function in coastal saline-alkaline natural and agricultural ecosystems. Specifically, the topics for this Special Issue include but are not restricted to:

  1. High-tech in soil salinity mapping, monitoring, and assessment;
  2. Hydrological, ecological, and environmental consequences from excessive agricultural reclamation, urbanization, and other negative human disturbances in coastal zones;
  3. Soil and water conservation and soil resource management for regional development and catchment governance in coastal zones;
  4. Salt-tolerance plant and saline agriculture;
  5. Novel materials and microbiological interventions for salt-affected soils and marginal waters;
  6. Carbon, nitrogen cycling and fertility improvement in saline agroecosystem;
  7. Integrated irrigation and drainage in irrigated district;
  8. Model- and experiment-based studies exploring land degradation processes and mechanisms in coastal zones;
  9. Salt-affected soils sustainable reclamation and arable land and food safety;
  10. Sustainable land restoration framework and practical technologies in the context of global climate change.

Dr. Xiaobing Chen
Prof. Dr. Jingsong Yang
Prof. Dr. Dongli She
Prof. Dr. Weifeng Chen
Prof. Dr. Jingwei Wu
Prof. Dr. Yi Wang
Prof. Dr. Min Chen
Prof. Dr. Yuyi Li
Dr. Asad Sarwar Qureshi
Dr. Anshuman Singh
Prof. Dr. Edivan Rodrigues De Souza
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • salt-affected soils
  • soil salinity mapping and monitoring
  • salt tolerance mechanisms of plants, halophytes
  • marginal quality water utilization
  • multi-scales hydro-salinity balance
  • soil fertility improvement and carbon cycling
  • soil water and salt transport simulation
  • irrigation and drainage
  • biosaline agriculture and food safety

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Published Papers (28 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1930 KiB  
Article
Effect of Different Fertilization Measures on Soil Salinity and Nutrients in Salt-Affected Soils
by Junyao Liu, Wenping Xie, Jingsong Yang, Rongjiang Yao, Xiangping Wang and Wenxiu Li
Water 2023, 15(18), 3274; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15183274 - 15 Sep 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3579
Abstract
Saline soil from the coast is a valuable and readily available resource. It is also a valuable resource for reserving arable land. Adding organic fertilizers to salinized soils is an effective method of enhancement. However, saline soils cannot be improved using a single [...] Read more.
Saline soil from the coast is a valuable and readily available resource. It is also a valuable resource for reserving arable land. Adding organic fertilizers to salinized soils is an effective method of enhancement. However, saline soils cannot be improved using a single measure, and the effects of compound measures of organic fertilizers combined with mineral elements, such as humic acid, are significant and worthy of further examination. To explore the effects of various measures on the features of pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and nutrient changes in coastal salinized soils in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, a ryegrass–alfalfa rotation with organic fertilizer and compound measures was designed. The findings indicated that the total nitrogen (TN) content of the soil increased and that all organic fertilizer composites decreased the electrical conductivity of the surface soil. However, the organic fertilizer with microbial fertilizer and humic acid was especially effective at regulating the pH and electrical conductivity of the surface soil when salts were prone to accumulation. In conclusion, our findings highlight new approaches to lowering salinity and boosting fertility in coastal saline soils: organic fertilizer with microbial fertilizers and humic acid, as well as organic fertilizer with attapulgite clay. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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18 pages, 2265 KiB  
Article
Effect of Straw Mulching and Deep Burial Mode on Water and Salt Transport Regularity in Saline Soils
by Mengzhu Li, Wei Wang, Xiaofang Wang, Chunmei Yao, Yuanbo Wang, Zanxia Wang, Weizhi Zhou, Endian Chen and Weifeng Chen
Water 2023, 15(18), 3227; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15183227 - 11 Sep 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1720
Abstract
To examine the impacts of various straw mulching techniques, this study used the indoor soil column test as the primary research method and the field test as the validation test on the salinity dynamics of saline and alkaline soils. The experiment in this [...] Read more.
To examine the impacts of various straw mulching techniques, this study used the indoor soil column test as the primary research method and the field test as the validation test on the salinity dynamics of saline and alkaline soils. The experiment in this study was designed with five treatments: SC means for straw covered on the soil surface; DB means for straw buried 40 cm below the soil surface; S1D1, S2D1, and S1D2 represent the ratio of soil surface cover to the amount of straw buried 40 cm below the soil surface as 1:1, 2:1, and 1:2, respectively. The results of the indoor soil column test showed that all kinds of straw mulching techniques could effectively reduce soil moisture evaporation, and the straw mulching and deep burial mode was more effective: after 45 days of evaporation, compared with that of CK, the cumulative evaporation of soil moisture were reduced by 29.61%, 27.49%, 37.87%, 65.85%, and 54.58% for SC, DB, S1D1, S2D1, and S1D2, respectively; the straw mulching and deep burial mode could reduce the soil evaporation intensity more effectively than the single-layer straw mulching mode: the mean soil evaporation rates of CK, SC, DB, S1D1, S2D1 and S1D2 after 45 days of evaporation were 1.27 mm/day, 0.90 mm/day, 0.92 mm/day, 0.80 mm/day, 0.43 mm/day, and 0.58 mm/day; various straw mulching techniques could inhibit the accumulation of salts in the surface soil and effectively regulate the distribution of salts in the soil profile, among which the straw mulching and deep burial mode had the best effect of salinity suppression: after 30 days of evaporation, the re-salinization levels of the 0–40 cm soil layer of SC, DB, S1D1, S2D1, and S1D2 were reduced by 66.78%, 43.08%, 33.95%, 92.04% and 45.94% compared with that in the CK, respectively; there was a significant positive correlation between cumulative evaporation of soil moisture and cumulative soil salinity, which implied that cumulative soil salinity increased with the increase in cumulative evaporation of soil moisture. The results of the field experiment justified the results of the indoor soil column test: after four months of evaporation, the field moisture contents of CK, SC, DB, S1D1, S2D1, and S1D2 in the 0–20 cm soil layer were 14.77%, 3.51%, 15.10%, 15.26%, 18.73%, and 2.94%, respectively; during the experimental period, the salt inhibition rate of SC, DB, S1D1, S2D1 and S1D2 in 0–20 cm soil layer were 35.46%, 44.76%, 50.98%, 54.80% and 37.30%, respectively. Therefore, in a comprehensive view, S2D1 treatment had the best effect of salt and vapor suppression on saline soil. This study is of great significance for the resource utilization of straw waste, the improvement of water utilization and efficiency, and the management of soil salinization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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12 pages, 2630 KiB  
Article
Effect of Ridging Shapes on the Water–Salt Spatial Distribution of Coastal Saline Soil
by Ji Qi, Kaixiao Sun, Yinghua Pan, Qiuli Hu and Ying Zhao
Water 2023, 15(16), 2999; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15162999 - 20 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1456
Abstract
The Yellow River Delta, located in China, experiences prevalent soil salinization and serves as a crucial ecological management zone within the Yellow River Basin. The shallow groundwater depth and high mineralization contribute to salt accumulation in the soil, which has a negative impact [...] Read more.
The Yellow River Delta, located in China, experiences prevalent soil salinization and serves as a crucial ecological management zone within the Yellow River Basin. The shallow groundwater depth and high mineralization contribute to salt accumulation in the soil, which has a negative impact on crop growth. The sustainable use of saline land in the Yellow River Delta hinges on managing the soil salinity within the crop root zone. This study investigated the spatial distribution of soil salinity in coastal saline soil in the Yellow River Delta under various ridging configurations: triangular, arch, and trapezoidal, using flat land as a control. It also examined the impact of evaporation on soil salinity migration. The findings revealed that the ridge–furrow system successfully caused salt to accumulate in the superficial layer of the ridge. Among the three ridge shapes, the triangular ridge was the most effective at concentrating salt on the ridge surface, with 54.04% of the salt mass accumulation in the ridge’s top layer (0–1 cm) and with the furrow bottom achieving a maximum desalination rate of 93.07%. The results implied that the triangular ridge fostered a favorable soil environment for crop growth by minimizing the salt content in the furrow. This research provides a theoretical foundation for the sustainable advancement of saline–alkali agriculture in the Yellow River Delta, which can lead to higher crop yields and better land management practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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13 pages, 2053 KiB  
Article
Effect of Nitrogen Application and Microbial Fertilizer on Nitrogen Conversion Processes in Saline Farmland
by Haogeng Zhao, Ju Zhao, Lijun Li, Chunyan Yin, Qiang Chen, Xiaoxue Nie, Jiahe Pang, Lixia Wang and Erzhen Li
Water 2023, 15(15), 2748; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15152748 - 29 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1586
Abstract
The nutrient utilization rate of salinized farmland soils is low, the nitrogen loss is high, and soil salinity inhibits the hydrolysis of urea and the release of nutrients. In this work, the effect of microbial fertilizer on the nitrogen transformation characteristics and nitrogen [...] Read more.
The nutrient utilization rate of salinized farmland soils is low, the nitrogen loss is high, and soil salinity inhibits the hydrolysis of urea and the release of nutrients. In this work, the effect of microbial fertilizer on the nitrogen transformation characteristics and nitrogen morphology of salinized soils was studied using indoor constant temperature incubation tests with different nitrogen application rates—without (A0) and with microbial fertilizer application (A1 (15 t/ha)) or nitrogen application (N) of 0 kg/ha (N0), 97.5 kg/ha (N1), or 195 kg/ha (N2). The results show the following: (i) When no microbial fertilizer was applied, an increased nitrogen application promoted nitrogen fertilizer’s ammonification and nitrification reactions. Furthermore, the maximum net nitrification rate with the high nitrogen fertilizer application decreased; the apparent ammonification rate and net ammonification rate A0N2 increased by 26.1% and 24.6%, respectively, compared with A0N1 on the first day of incubation; the maximum net nitrification rate of A0N1 was more than that of A0N2; and A0N1 > A0N2 on day 3, while A0N2 > A0N1 on days 3 to 15. At 3 d, the nitrogen conversion process of A0N1 was dominated by the nitrification reaction, while the ammonification reaction dominated in A0N2. (ii) Microbial fertilizers significantly increased the ammonification and nitrification rates under the low N fertilizer application. The intensity of ammonification and nitrification under the low N fertilizer application was greater than that under the high N fertilizer application. The apparent ammonification rate and net ammonification rate of A1N1 increased by 60.9% and 52.6% compared with A0N1 and 21.9% and 21.7% compared with A1N2 on the first day of incubation, and the peak net nitrification rates of A1N1 and A1N2 (28.19 mg/kg d and 11.02 mg/kg d, respectively) and net nitrification rates of A1N1 and A1N2 were 113.7% higher than those of A0N1. The net nitrification rates of A1N1 and A1N2 were 82.3% and 58.6% lower than the maximum net nitrification rates on the 15th day of incubation, respectively. (iii) In saline soils, low-nitrogen microbial fertilizers led to more ammonium nitrogen in the soil, and the high-nitrogen fertilizer application resulted in higher nitrate nitrogen in the soil, leading to nitrogen leaching. Therefore, when applying microbial fertilizer, choosing the most suitable period for reduced chasing is important for the efficient use of fertilizers, the alternative role of biofertilizers, and the study of environmental pollution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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21 pages, 29844 KiB  
Article
Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of Soil Salinization and Its Impact on Cultivated Land Productivity in the BOHAI Rim Region
by Ying Song, Mingxiu Gao, Zexin Xu, Jiafan Wang and Meizhen Bi
Water 2023, 15(13), 2368; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15132368 - 27 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1895
Abstract
Soil salinization can have an inhibitory effect on crop productivity and pose a serious threat to regional agricultural resource utilization and sustainable development. However, there are scarce studies on the quantitative impact of soil salinization on crop productivity. The purpose of this study [...] Read more.
Soil salinization can have an inhibitory effect on crop productivity and pose a serious threat to regional agricultural resource utilization and sustainable development. However, there are scarce studies on the quantitative impact of soil salinization on crop productivity. The purpose of this study is to identify the spatial and temporal characteristics of the cultivated land, the soil salinization degree, and the net primary productivity (NPP) of vegetation in the Shandong region around the Bohai Sea and to couple the quantitative relationship between soil salinization and the productivity of the cultivated land. We found that the amount of cultivated land in the study area gradually decreased from 2001 to 2019. The degree of soil salinization in the cultivated land in the north of the study area increased slightly from 2001 to 2005 and decreased continuously after 2011. The NPP value of the cultivated land increased, fluctuating from 2001 to 2019. The spatial distribution of the NPP value was generally lower in the north than in the south, with Dongying District as the boundary. In addition, in different soil salt content (g/kg) intervals, the change trends in cultivated land NPP varied. When the salt content of cultivated soil was in the range of 0–3 g/kg, 3–7 g/kg, or 7–15 g/kg, for every 1 g/kg increase in salt content, the NPP value decreased by 43.62 gC m−2a−1, 30.36 gC m−2a−1, and 44.19 gC m−2a−1, respectively. These results are expected to provide decision-making support for strengthening the dynamic monitoring and regulation of cultivated land salinization and promoting sustainable utilization of salinized cultivated land in the coastal areas to alleviate the food crisis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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13 pages, 3757 KiB  
Article
The Influence of the Osmotic Potential on Evapotranspiration
by Adil K. Salman, Wolfgang Durner, Mahyar Naseri and Deep C. Joshi
Water 2023, 15(11), 2031; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15112031 - 26 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2344
Abstract
Climate change is expected to affect the quality of soil and water, resulting in a significant impact on soil water balance in various regions around the world. Soil water potential plays a significant role in influencing evapotranspiration (ET), which is a crucial component [...] Read more.
Climate change is expected to affect the quality of soil and water, resulting in a significant impact on soil water balance in various regions around the world. Soil water potential plays a significant role in influencing evapotranspiration (ET), which is a crucial component of the soil water balance. The matric potential and the osmotic potential are the main components of the soil water potential. The osmotic potential is particularly important in dry soils, salt-affected soils, coastal lands, or when low-quality water is utilized for irrigation. Despite its importance, the impact of osmotic potential on ET has not been well-studied compared to other factors. Therefore, we conducted a study to investigate the impact of osmotic potential on ET from small-scale lab lysimeters planted with grass and equipped with scales and data loggers connected to computers. To create different osmotic potential levels, we irrigated the lysimeters with two different water qualities: distilled water and 4.79 dS.m−1 NaCl solution. The lysimeters were kept in well-watered conditions, and daily ET was monitored. Our results indicate a strong correlation between osmotic potential and ET. After three months of applying the treatments, the lysimeters with lower osmotic potential had a 39% reduction in cumulative ET compared to those irrigated with distilled water. Moreover, the osmotic stress affected plant health, leading to a notable decrease in the leaf area index and exerting a significant influence on evapotranspiration partitioning components, including transpiration and evaporation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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16 pages, 6843 KiB  
Article
Remote Sensing Monitoring of Soil Salinity in Weigan River–Kuqa River Delta Oasis Based on Two-Dimensional Feature Space
by Yingxuan Ma and Nigara Tashpolat
Water 2023, 15(9), 1694; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15091694 - 27 Apr 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2314
Abstract
Soil salinization is a serious resource and ecological problem globally. The Weigan River–Kuqa River Delta Oasis is a key region in the arid and semi-arid regions of China with prominent soil salinization. The saline soils in the oasis are widely distributed over a [...] Read more.
Soil salinization is a serious resource and ecological problem globally. The Weigan River–Kuqa River Delta Oasis is a key region in the arid and semi-arid regions of China with prominent soil salinization. The saline soils in the oasis are widely distributed over a large area, causing great harm to agricultural development and the environment. Remote sensing monitoring can provide a reference method for the management of regional salinization. We extracted the spectral indices and performed a correlation analysis using soil measurement data and Sentinel-2 remote sensing data. Then, two-dimensional feature space inversion models for soil salinity were constructed based on the preferred spectral indices, namely, the canopy response salinity index (CRSI), composite spectral response index (COSRI), normalized difference water index (NDWI), and green atmospherically resistant vegetation index (GARI). The soil salinity in a typical saline zone in the Weigan River–Kuqa River Delta Oasis was monitored and analyzed. We found that the inversion of the CRSI-COSRI model was optimal (R2 of 0.669), followed by the CRSI-NDWI (0.656) and CRSI-GARI (0.604) models. Therefore, a model based on the CRSI-COSRI feature space can effectively extract the soil salinization information for the study area. This is of great significance to understanding the salinization situation in the Weigan River–Kuqa River Delta Oasis, enriching salinization remote sensing monitoring methods, and solving the soil salinization problem in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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17 pages, 3185 KiB  
Article
Membrane Processes Treatment and Possibility of Agriculture Reuse of Textile Effluents: Study Case in Tunisia
by Sourour Mzahma, Joelle Duplay, Dalila Souguir, Raja Ben Amar, Malika Ghazi and Mohamed Hachicha
Water 2023, 15(7), 1430; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15071430 - 6 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3069
Abstract
Several processes have been developed to treat the textile effluents. Membrane technologies are among the most reliable processes for purifying these effluents. However, due to high costs, only reduced quantities are being treated. The recycling practices of treated textile effluents (TTE) in agriculture [...] Read more.
Several processes have been developed to treat the textile effluents. Membrane technologies are among the most reliable processes for purifying these effluents. However, due to high costs, only reduced quantities are being treated. The recycling practices of treated textile effluents (TTE) in agriculture have not been appropriately explored. This work evaluates the quality of waters treated by membrane processes and puts forward a scenario for optimizing TTEs in agriculture. Four types of TTE have been tested to irrigate Sesbania bispinosa plants: water from biological treatment (BT) and water from three membrane processes after BT (Ultrafiltration (UF), Nanofiltration (NF), and Reverse Osmosis (RO)). The results indicate that the NF and RO membranes have a high affinity to remove monovalent and multivalent ions. Indeed, the removal of SO42−, Na+, and Cl− by NF was 83, 61, and 55%, respectively. Thus, the RO reduces approximately 96% of these elements. Irrigation with NF and RO waters has no negative effect on the soil and Sesbania plants, contrary to BT and UF waters. It appears that the reuse of TTE resulting from BT is not a good alternative; however, by carrying out additional treatments by NF and RO, their reuses have been made possible. The achieved results are a proposal to simultaneously solve three major problems affecting most of the world’s population: (1) environmental pollution by reducing the discharge of untreated textile effluents and improving the quality of this discharged water; (2) the pressure on water resources in the agricultural sector by replacing a conventional resource with a non-conventional resource (TTE); and (3) the lack of fodder, especially in the summer, by opting for crops that adapt to the quality of these TTE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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24 pages, 4136 KiB  
Article
Rare-Metal Mineralization in Salt Lakes and the Linkage with Composition of Granites: Evidence from Burabay Rock Mass (Eastern Kazakhstan)
by Bakytzhan Amralinova, Bakytgul Agaliyeva, Vasyl Lozynskyi, Olga Frolova, Kanay Rysbekov, Indira Mataibaeva and Marina Mizernaya
Water 2023, 15(7), 1386; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15071386 - 3 Apr 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2417
Abstract
This paper represents the results of a study of the chemical composition of salt lakes within the Burabay rock mass in eastern Kazakhstan. We sampled water and bottom deposits, geochemically analyzed the composition of the salt lakes, and performed aerial photography of the [...] Read more.
This paper represents the results of a study of the chemical composition of salt lakes within the Burabay rock mass in eastern Kazakhstan. We sampled water and bottom deposits, geochemically analyzed the composition of the salt lakes, and performed aerial photography of the lakes to geometrize them. We studied the linkage between the rare-metal mineralization of granites of the Burabay rock mass and the salt lakes within the territory. Based on the obtained data, we identified the prospects of the survey area for rare metals. The surveys included 15 water samples and 15 bottom-deposit samples. To identify the source of salt in the lake water and deposits, the chemical composition of Burabay rocks was analyzed and seven samples of coarse-grained and porphyritic granites were selected. It was established that the water and bottom deposits accumulated elevated concentrations of valuable components (i.e., Sr, Rb, and U); this fact may be considered as an argument for conducting special surveys of small lakes in the region. The results obtained can be used for conducting further explorations and mining operations in the survey area in order to revive the rare-metal industry in the region, which will allow the development of new high-tech production and the creation of new jobs in this sphere. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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13 pages, 2388 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Assessment of Salinity Stress Impact on Early Growth in Ten Certified Palestinian Barley Cultivars (Hordeum vulgare L.) Potentially Suitable for Cultivation on Former Quarry Substrates
by Sharaf M. Al-Tardeh, Hala N. Alqam, Arnd J. Kuhn and Christina M. Kuchendorf
Water 2023, 15(6), 1065; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061065 - 10 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1972
Abstract
Salinity is a major constraint for crop health and productivity, particularly on arid, semiarid, and otherwise marginal soils, such as quarry residue. Quarries are a main pillar of national income in Palestine but have a long-lasting toll on the environment. We examined barley [...] Read more.
Salinity is a major constraint for crop health and productivity, particularly on arid, semiarid, and otherwise marginal soils, such as quarry residue. Quarries are a main pillar of national income in Palestine but have a long-lasting toll on the environment. We examined barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), another pillar of the Palestinian economy and one of the most important crops in the world, in this regard for its tolerance to salinity stress. This study is the first to evaluate the impact of salinity (50, 85, 120, and 175 mM NaCl) on seed germination, early growth stage, and morpho-anatomy on ten pre-selected certified Palestinian barley cultivars (Baladi, Improved Baladi, Rihan, ICARDA 1, ICARDA 15, ACSAD 68, ACSAD 176, ACSAD 1417, ACSAD 1732, and ACSAD 1744) to assess their potential for a successful growth start under adverse saline conditions. In addition, soil samples from quarries in Hebron governorate were randomly selected and tested for salinity level, electrical conductivity, and total of soluble salts for a first rough overview of options for applying our results, since local data are often scarce or outdated. The examined soil samples reached electrical conductivity (EC) ranges of 1.81 × 10−4–9.071 × 10−4 dS m−1, which are below the normal EC (11–57 × 10−4 dS m−1). This result may contraindicate the hypothesis that quarry lands always suffer from salinity stress. Cultivars such as ACSAD 68 and Icarda 15 proved very sensitive to higher salinity stress with high G50 (time point when 50% of seeds have germinated) at 4.4 d, with 120 mM NaCl (ACSAD 68) or incalculable amounts (Icarda 15) and just 50 and 20% total germination, respectively. Concentrations of 175 mM NaCl were found in ACSAD 176 and Improved Baladi (no G50, 37 and 30% germination, respectively). Some cultivars showed a moderate to high resilience to salinity, such as ICARDA I, ACSAD 1417, and ACSAD 1744, which reached > 80% seed germination at 120 mM NaCl and >60% at 175 mM NaCl, and G50 within 1.5–2.2 days; the most resilient was ACSAD 1732 with G50 < 2 days and germination still >80% at 175 mM NaCl. This is strongly supported by the monitored growth parameters. In conclusion, ACSAD1732 and Icarda 1 cultivars are highly recommended for cultivation in areas of low precipitation and high salt accumulation. In addition, the land and/or soil of quarries, their landfills, and nearby areas in Palestine may be fit for barley cultivation with recommended cultivars regarding salinity stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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12 pages, 2125 KiB  
Article
Effect of an Organic Fertilizer of Ganoderma lucidum Residue on the Physical and Chemical Properties and Microbial Communities of Saline Alkaline Soil
by Pan-Bo Deng, Li-Peng Guo, Hui-Ting Yang, Xiao-Yun Leng, Yue-Ming Wang, Jie Bi and Chun-Fang Shi
Water 2023, 15(5), 962; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15050962 - 2 Mar 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2488
Abstract
Saline-alkali land is the main reserve soil resource. The amount of arable farmland soil can be increased through improvement and utilization of saline-alkali land. Bio-organic fertilizer is an effective saline-alkali soil conditioner, but there are few studies on the improvement of saline-alkali soil [...] Read more.
Saline-alkali land is the main reserve soil resource. The amount of arable farmland soil can be increased through improvement and utilization of saline-alkali land. Bio-organic fertilizer is an effective saline-alkali soil conditioner, but there are few studies on the improvement of saline-alkali soil with traditional Chinese medicine residues (TCMRs). In this study, an organic fertilizer made from Ganoderma lucidum residue (GLR) was mixed with saline-alkali soil at different proportions; physicochemical properties, enzyme activity, and microbial community characteristics of the soil were investigated. The results showed that the soil pH, as well as bulk density and electrical conductivity were significantly reduced, while the soil moisture content and porosity were significantly increased after the GLR organic fertilizer incorporation. Soil invertase and soil amylase activities significantly increased, as well as the diversity and richness of the soil microbial community structure. The abundance of the dominant phyla, Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, and Basidiomycota, increased, while the abundance of the dominant Proteobacteria and Ascomycota phyla decreased. The best improvement effect is obtained when the application ratio of GLR organic fertilizer is 25%. The findings showed that TCMRs have positive application prospects in saline-alkali soil improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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11 pages, 1799 KiB  
Article
Dissolved Nitrous Oxide in Shallow-Water Ecosystems under Saline-Alkali Environment
by Qianwen Du, Dongli She, Yongchun Pan, Zhenqi Shi and Alimu Abulaiti
Water 2023, 15(5), 932; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15050932 - 28 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1982
Abstract
The problem of global warming is becoming more and more serious. N2O is a potent greenhouse gas. Most current studies on dissolved N2O concentration have focused on inland freshwater and seawater while paying less attention to coastal agricultural catchment [...] Read more.
The problem of global warming is becoming more and more serious. N2O is a potent greenhouse gas. Most current studies on dissolved N2O concentration have focused on inland freshwater and seawater while paying less attention to coastal agricultural catchment areas. The coastal agricultural catchment area is the link between the farmland ecosystem and the aquatic ecosystem, which is shallow in water depth. Moreover, due to the high salt content and obvious periodic change, it is highly sensitive to environmental changes and human activities and has strong potential for N2O emission. Therefore, it is of great significance to understand the characteristics of the changes in the dissolved N2O concentration in the shallow-water ecosystem under the saline-alkali environment of the coastal reclamation area and to identify the main controlling factors. The soil of Yudong reclamation area in Rudong County, Jiangsu Province was collected to carry out the submerged cultivation experiment. In order to simulate the saline-alkali situation of the coastal reclamation area, four salt gradients (S1–S4), four alkali gradients (A1–A4), and three levels of exogenous nitrogen concentration (N1–N3). In addition, the experiment set a control treatment (CK) without salt and alkali addition. After 2 weeks of cultivation in a shallow water layer of about 5 cm, the dissolved N2O concentration and its influencing factors were measured and analyzed by collecting the overlying water sample and sediment after 24 h of fertilization. The results showed that changes in the saline-alkali environment in shallow-water ecosystems significantly affected the changes in dissolved N2O concentration. The saline-alkali indicators (EC and pH of the overlying water and sediment), DO of the overlying water, and the microbial genes nirS, nirK, and nosZ were the key influencing factors of N2O production in shallow-water systems. The correlation between nirS gene abundance and the dissolved N2O concentration was the highest. The BP neural network model can be used to simulate and predict the dissolved N2O concentration in overlying water under saline-alkali environment. Based on the experimental results, this study can provide a scientific basis for understanding the nitrogen cycling process in shallow-water ecosystems in the coastal reclamation area, improving the absorption of non-point-source nitrogen and reducing N2O emissions in shallow-water wetlands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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14 pages, 1865 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Dynamics of Landscape Patterns in the Yellow River Delta Region
by Luofan Li, Xinju Li, Beibei Niu and Zixuan Zhang
Water 2023, 15(4), 819; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040819 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2067
Abstract
The Yellow River Delta region is one of the estuarine deltas with the fastest land building speed, and it is an important region for the study of landscape pattern change due to its diverse variety of landscape types. By analyzing the dynamic degree, [...] Read more.
The Yellow River Delta region is one of the estuarine deltas with the fastest land building speed, and it is an important region for the study of landscape pattern change due to its diverse variety of landscape types. By analyzing the dynamic degree, landscape type transfer matrix, and landscape indices of landscape types in the Yellow River Delta region in 2005, 2012, and 2018, this paper found that the area of construction land, salt fields, and breeding ponds in the Yellow River Delta region has increased to a large extent, with an increase in the aggregation degree and the utilization rate of this landscape type, and the landscape has developed toward the direction of aggregation and unification. The increase in construction land area mainly comes from the transfer of cropland area, part of which is occupied in order to adapt to urban expansion, and the salt fields and breeding ponds mainly come from the transfer of waters and mudflats, which can be seen as the main utilization direction of the water landscape. Moreover, unused land has increased with the degree of dispersion and fragmentation of development and utilization, so the exploitation and utilization of unused land still needs to be optimized. Through the analysis of the dynamic change in landscape pattern, we can explore the direction and extent of the evolution of landscape types, which has certain guiding significance for the sustainable use of land resources and the sustainable development of economy in the Yellow River Delta region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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13 pages, 1416 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Returning Straw and Nitrogen Application on the Nitrification and Mineralization of Nitrogen in Saline Soil
by Chunyan Yin, Lijun Li, Ju Zhao, Jingsong Yang and Haogeng Zhao
Water 2023, 15(3), 564; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030564 - 1 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2135
Abstract
In order to discuss the problems of the transformation of soil nitrogen and nitrogen leaching in saline farmland, this study carried out a split-plot experiment with returning straw and various nitrogen application rates. The main treatment of the experiment was returning corn straw, [...] Read more.
In order to discuss the problems of the transformation of soil nitrogen and nitrogen leaching in saline farmland, this study carried out a split-plot experiment with returning straw and various nitrogen application rates. The main treatment of the experiment was returning corn straw, at quantities of 0.64 g (C1) and 0 g (C0), and the secondary treatment was nitrogen fertilizer (urea) at the quantities of 0 g (N0), 0.015 g (N1) and 0.03 g (N2). The results showed that, firstly, with the extension of the incubation time, the nitrogen nitrification rate of saline soil in each treatment decreased gradually until it stabilized without straw. For Days 0–7 of incubation, the nitrogen mineralization rate of saline soil decreased rapidly, and the mineralization rates of C0N0, C0N1 and C0N2 decreased by 86.91%, 89.26% and 83.64%, respectively. The nitrification rate of nitrogen in saline soil was C0N0 > C0N1 > C0N2, which decreased by 68.01%, 67.42% and 60.52%, respectively. Secondly, under the condition of returning straw to the field, the nitrogen mineralization rate of saline soil in each treatment decreased gradually and became stable with the extension of the incubation time. The nitrogen mineralization rate of saline soil in each nitrogen application treatment was C1N2 > C1N1 > C1N0 within 0–3 days of incubation, which decreased by 87.46%, 87.20% and 81.83%, respectively. The nitrification rate of saline soil under different nitrogen treatments was C1N2 > C1N0 > C1N1, and the nitrification rates of C1N0, C1N1 and C1N2 decreased by 66.62%, 62.54% and 47.21%, respectively. Thirdly, during the incubation period, returning straw slowed down nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in saline soil under the reduced nitrogen and no-nitrogen fertilizer treatments, but it enhanced nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in saline soil under the high nitrogen treatment. In conclusion, returning straw and reducing the application of nitrogen fertilizer to saline soil can retain more ammonium nitrogen, thus inhibiting nitrification of the soil nitrogen, reducing the environmental pollution risk of nitrate leaching and reducing nitrogen losses, all of which are of great significance for environmental pollution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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15 pages, 1384 KiB  
Article
Natural Regeneration of Morus alba in Robinia pseudoacacia Plantation and the Mechanism of Seed Germination and Early Seedling Growth Restriction in the Yellow River Delta
by Mengyao Wang, Xiangyuan Zhu, Wei Liu, Kexin Wang, Chunxia Tan, Guangfang Liu, Peili Mao, Banghua Cao, Bo Jia, Yuanxiang Pang and Fucheng Jiang
Water 2023, 15(3), 546; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030546 - 30 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1919
Abstract
There is a wide range of naturally regenerated Morus alba in the declining Robinia pseudoacacia plantation of the Yellow River Delta. It is important to clarify the key mechanism of natural regeneration of M. alba for the transformation of declining R. pseudoacacia plantation. [...] Read more.
There is a wide range of naturally regenerated Morus alba in the declining Robinia pseudoacacia plantation of the Yellow River Delta. It is important to clarify the key mechanism of natural regeneration of M. alba for the transformation of declining R. pseudoacacia plantation. According to the death density of R. pseudoacacia, the plantation of R. pseudoacacia was divided into nondeclining, moderately declining, and severely declining forests. The structural characteristics of adult trees and seedlings of M. alba in different decline degrees forest were investigated. A pot experiment was conducted to study the seed germination and early seedling growth of M. alba in saline alkali soil and nonsaline alkali soil under different soil salt contents and light intensities. The results showed that the natural regeneration of M. alba was obviously affected by the decline of R. pseudoacacia plantation. With the increase of decline degree, M. alba density and seedling density first increased and then decreased, and were the highest in the medium decline plantation. Under full light intensity, the vigor index of M. alba seeds and the biomass of seedlings were significantly greater than those of 25% full light intensity. The germination rate and germination index under 1‰ soil salt content were significantly lower than those under 3‰, but the biomass of seedlings was on the contrary. The 1000-seed weight, seed germination, and seedling biomass of moderately declining R. pseudoacacia plantations were close to those of nonsaline alkali land, while significantly higher than those of nondeclining plantations, but the germination index of moderately declining R. pseudoacacia plantation was higher than that of nonsaline alkali land. Therefore, the germination ability of maternal trees in saline alkali land was higher than that in nonsaline alkali land under salt stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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21 pages, 17092 KiB  
Article
Ecosystem Service Value Evaluation of Saline—Alkali Land Development in the Yellow River Delta—The Example of the Huanghe Island
by Jian Liu, Xue Chen, Weifeng Chen, Yong Zhang, Ailing Wang and Yanfeng Zheng
Water 2023, 15(3), 477; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030477 - 25 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2368
Abstract
Saline–alkali land is an important land resource with high development potential and an important ecological product with high potential ecosystem service value (ESV). It is of great significance for rational development and protection of saline–alkali land resources to carry out research on the [...] Read more.
Saline–alkali land is an important land resource with high development potential and an important ecological product with high potential ecosystem service value (ESV). It is of great significance for rational development and protection of saline–alkali land resources to carry out research on the evaluation methods of the ESV of saline–alkali land and to scientifically quantify the ESV of saline–alkali land development. Taking typical saline–alkali land in the Yellow River Delta on the Huanghe Island of China as an example, this research constructed an ESV evaluation index system from the perspective of functional value containing three first-level indicators such as economic value, four second-level indicators such as supply service, and eight lowest-level indicators such as food production. It also considered production and operation costs and evaluated the ESV of the Huanghe Island using the ecological economics method. The results showed that the ESV of the Huanghe Island is CNY 133.586 million, and the unit area value is 50,200 CNY/hm2, which is a relatively high value. Among them, the supply service value was the highest, accounting for more than half. In recent years, the development of the Huanghe Island has produced high supply and service value, but due to weak background conditions and low vegetation coverage, regulation and support service values are relatively low, the cultural service value is still to be explored, and there is great potential for ecological and social value. This research can provide references for scientific evaluation of the ESV of saline–alkali land and provide a basis for rational development and utilization of the Huanghe Island. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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13 pages, 2547 KiB  
Article
Bio-Organic Fertilizer Combined with Different Amendments Improves Nutrient Enhancement and Salt Leaching in Saline Soil: A Soil Column Experiment
by Meng Xiao, Guangming Liu, Shengguo Jiang, Xuewei Guan, Jinlin Chen, Rongjiang Yao and Xiuping Wang
Water 2022, 14(24), 4084; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14244084 - 14 Dec 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3190
Abstract
Salt-affected soils frequently experience leaching and desalination issues, which severely restrict plant growth and water uptake. Hence, in this experiment, four treatments including CG (no amendments addition); OF (organic fertilizer addition); OH (organic fertilizer and Hekang amendment addition); and OB (organic fertilizer and [...] Read more.
Salt-affected soils frequently experience leaching and desalination issues, which severely restrict plant growth and water uptake. Hence, in this experiment, four treatments including CG (no amendments addition); OF (organic fertilizer addition); OH (organic fertilizer and Hekang amendment addition); and OB (organic fertilizer and fulvic acid addition) were designed to examine the effect of organic amendment on soil chemical properties, water and salt transport, and soil desalination laws of coastal saline soil. The results showed that the addition of organic amendments significantly reduced soil pH (8.47–8.52) and salt content (2.06–2.34 g kg−1), while increasing soil organic matter content, available phosphorus, and available potassium. OH treatment has a higher available phosphorus content than other treatments. OH and OB treatments elevated the soil desalination ratio (32.95% and 32.12%, respectively) by raising the leaching volume and leaching rate. Organic amendments significantly promoted Na+ (4.5–32%) and SO42− (12–27%) leaching compared to CG. Organic treatments, particularly OB treatment, not only increased the content of soil organic matter and available nutrients but also promoted salt ion leaching, improved soil permeability and increased soil desalination and water leaching rates. Our results may provide a theoretical basis for revealing the desalination law of coastal saline soil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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16 pages, 4892 KiB  
Article
Water Efficiency of Coriander under Flows of Application of Nutritive Solutions Prepared in Brackish Waters
by Raphaela Revorêdo Bezerra, José Amilton Santos Júnior, Uriel Calisto Pessoa, Ênio Farias de França e Silva, Tarcísio Ferreira de Oliveira, Kézia Ferreira Nogueira and Edivan Rodrigues de Souza
Water 2022, 14(24), 4005; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14244005 - 8 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2240
Abstract
The impact of the salinity of the nutrient solution on water efficiency can be changed by the application flow. The aim of this work was to analyze the water efficiency and production components of coriander plants, cultivar Verdão, exposed to nutrient solutions (1.7, [...] Read more.
The impact of the salinity of the nutrient solution on water efficiency can be changed by the application flow. The aim of this work was to analyze the water efficiency and production components of coriander plants, cultivar Verdão, exposed to nutrient solutions (1.7, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 dS m−1) applied with different flow rates (1.0, 2.0, 3,0, and 4.0 L min−1) in an NFT hydroponic system. Two experiments were carried out in a greenhouse with two sources of salts to prepare the electrical conductivity. In the first experiment, NaCl was used, and CaCl2·2H2O was used in the second. Variables were analyzed related to the production components and the consumption of water use efficiency. It was found that the water efficiency and production components of coriander plants were more affected by increases in electrical conductivity in the nutrient solution. CaCl2·2H2O better promotes the lower production of dry mass, plant height, water consumption, and the instantaneous and intrinsic efficiency of water use than NaCl. The coriander’s water relations were inhibited by increases in the concentration of salts in nutrient solution, while increases in the flow rate of the nutrient solution negatively affected the productive parameters of the coriander plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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13 pages, 772 KiB  
Article
Nitrogen Mitigates Salt Stress and Promotes Wheat Growth in the Yellow River Delta, China
by Yunpeng Sun, Xiaobing Chen, Jingjing Shan, Jingtian Xian, Dan Cao, Yongming Luo, Rongjiang Yao and Xin Zhang
Water 2022, 14(23), 3819; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14233819 - 23 Nov 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2461
Abstract
Salt-affected soils is an important soil resource. Understanding fertilizer and salinity interaction are of great economic importance for improving crop yield and fertilizer use efficiency. A pot experiment was carried out to study the application of nitrogen (N) for ameliorating salt stress in [...] Read more.
Salt-affected soils is an important soil resource. Understanding fertilizer and salinity interaction are of great economic importance for improving crop yield and fertilizer use efficiency. A pot experiment was carried out to study the application of nitrogen (N) for ameliorating salt stress in wheat grown in the coastal saline soil of the Yellow River delta. Several controlling levels of salinity and nitrogen (0.7, 1.7, 2.7 g/kg, and 135, 270, and 405 kg/ha) were designed in a pot experiment in a stable water content state to investigate the N and salt interaction on soil properties and winter wheat growth characteristics. The results showed that the dry weight of winter wheat was promoted by salinity in the early growth stage (20 days), then it was gradually inhibited by nitrogen fertilizer. When winter wheat was grown by 54 days, the N and salinity had significant effects on the biomass of winter wheat. The nitrogen content of wheat shoot and root was mainly affected by N addition usage, and the largest value was obtained in 270 kg/ha N dosage treatments. The higher the salt content existed in the soil, the lower the growth rate shown in wheat cultivation. Under saline conditions, the N fertilizer application amount should be controlled to no more than 270 kg/ha, so that it could greatly promote wheat growth. Reasonable fertilizer usage could significantly contribute to crop yield and food quality of the saline agriculture in the Yellow River delta. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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13 pages, 824 KiB  
Article
Fertilizer 15N Fates of the Coastal Saline Soil-Wheat Systems with Different Salinization Degrees in the Yellow River Delta
by Kongming Zhu, Fupeng Song, Fujian Duan, Yuping Zhuge, Weifeng Chen, Quangang Yang, Xinsong Guo, Pizheng Hong, Li Wan and Qun Lin
Water 2022, 14(22), 3748; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14223748 - 18 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1749
Abstract
In order to clarify the fates of fertilizer N in coastal saline soil-wheat systems with different salinization degrees, this study was conducted to determine the 15N uptake rates in various parts of wheat plant at maturity stage and the residual 15N [...] Read more.
In order to clarify the fates of fertilizer N in coastal saline soil-wheat systems with different salinization degrees, this study was conducted to determine the 15N uptake rates in various parts of wheat plant at maturity stage and the residual 15N in three different saline soils and the 15N loss of soil-wheat systems by using the 15N-labeled urea N tracing method in the Yellow River Delta. The results showed that: (1) The increase of soil salinity from 0.2% to 1% promoted the wheat plant to absorb N from soil and not from fertilizer and significantly inhibited the dry matter mass accumulation and 15N uptakes of each wheat parts and whole plant, but especially increased the total N concentration of wheat roots, stems, leaves, and grains. The aggravation of soil salinity significantly enhanced the distribution ratios of 15N uptakes and Ndffs in the wheat roots, stems, and leaves to depress the salt stress. (2) The 15N residues were mainly concentrated in the 0~20 cm saline soil layer and decreased as the soil profile deepened from 0 to 100 cm; the 15N residues decreased in the 0~40 cm soil profile layer and accumulated in the 40~100 cm with the increase of soil salinization degrees significantly. (3) The fates of 15N applied to the coastal saline soil-wheat system were wheat uptakes 1.53~13.96%, soil residues 10.05~48.69%, losses 37.35~88.42%, with the lowest 15N uptake and utilization in the three saline soils, the highest residual rate in lightly saline soils, and the highest loss in moderately and heavily saline soils. The increase of soil salinity inhibits wheat uptakes and soil residues and intensifies the losses from fertilizer 15N. Therefore, the fate of fertilizer N losses significantly increased as the degree of soil salinity increased. The conventional N management that was extremely inefficient for more N loss should be optimized to enhance the N efficiency and wheat yield of the coastal saline soil-wheat system in the Yellow River Delta. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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15 pages, 2377 KiB  
Article
Regulation of Abiotic Factors on Aboveground Biomass and Biodiversity of Ditch Slope in Coastal Farmland
by Yueying Wang, Songtao Wang, Bing Jiang, Yihao Zhu, Xuchang Niu, Changjiang Li, Zhen Wu and Weifeng Chen
Water 2022, 14(21), 3547; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14213547 - 4 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2007
Abstract
Ditch plant biomass and diversity play an important role in maintaining ditch ecosystem structure and function stability, which are subject to environmental changes. However, the regulation of abiotic factors on the aboveground biomass and diversity of plants on the slopes of coastal agricultural [...] Read more.
Ditch plant biomass and diversity play an important role in maintaining ditch ecosystem structure and function stability, which are subject to environmental changes. However, the regulation of abiotic factors on the aboveground biomass and diversity of plants on the slopes of coastal agricultural ditches remains unclear. In this study, the spatial distribution of soil physicochemical properties, aboveground biomass, and diversity of vegetation on different slope positions (upper slope, middle slope, and lower slope) and slope aspects (north-south direction) of farmland drainage ditches and their correlations were investigated through field surveys of vegetation on the slopes of coastal farmland drainage ditches at different sampling sites. First, water content and bulk density) decreased with the increase of slope position, while the salinity showed the opposite spatial distribution characteristics and the distribution of soil nutrients in space was mainly concentrated in the 0–20 cm soil layer. Second, the aboveground biomass of vegetation was significantly higher on the south slope than on the north slope, with the highest biomass at the lower slope on the south slope and higher aboveground biomass on the north slope at the upper and middle slopes. The Shannon-Wiener index, Pielou index, and Margalef index of ditch slope vegetation in Dongying and Binzhou farmland ditch slopes showed the same pattern of change at different slope positions and directions, which were significantly higher at the upper and middle slopes than at the lower slopes. In contrast, the Simpson index showed the opposite pattern, decreasing with the increase in slope position. Further, WC, BD, organic matter content, and total nitrogen content had positive effects on vegetation aboveground biomass, while soil pH, salinity, and available potassium content hindered vegetation growth. Finally, the Shannon-Wiener index and Pielou index were positively correlated with soil BD and available phosphorus content, and negatively correlated with organic matter and total nitrogen content, while the Simpson index was positively correlated with soil BD and WC, and had a significant negative correlation with soil salinity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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14 pages, 7018 KiB  
Article
The Temporal–Spatial Dynamic Distributions of Soil Water and Salt under Deep Vertical Rotary Tillage on Coastal Saline Soil
by Wenxiu Li, Jingsong Yang, Chong Tang, Xiaoyuan Liu, Wenping Xie, Rongjiang Yao and Xiangping Wang
Water 2022, 14(21), 3370; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14213370 - 24 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1859
Abstract
Different from the traditional deep tillage, deep vertical rotary tillage can smash deep soil without disturbing the soil layer, which improves soil water infiltration and promotes salt leaching. This has gradually been applied in the research into saline alkali improvements. However, there is [...] Read more.
Different from the traditional deep tillage, deep vertical rotary tillage can smash deep soil without disturbing the soil layer, which improves soil water infiltration and promotes salt leaching. This has gradually been applied in the research into saline alkali improvements. However, there is limited knowledge about the effect of deep vertical rotary tillage on the temporal–spatial distributions of soil water and salt under the shallow underground water level. Therefore, a preliminary soil column experiment was carried out to explore the results of water and salt movement under three different tillage methods: traditional rotary tillage depth of 20 cm (XG−20), deep vertical rotary tillage depth of 20 cm (FL−20) and deep vertical rotary tillage depth of 40 cm (FL−40). The temporal–spatial variation in soil water and salt was analyzed. The results showed that the average infiltration rate of FL−40 increased by 1.25 and 0.46 cm h−1 in 0−40 cm soil layer compared with that of XG−20 and FL−20. At the same time, soil water content was also increased, and the order of soil water content was FL−40 > FL−20 > XG−20. With the increase in tillage depth, the desalinization rate and the soil electric conductivity (EC) of FL−40 were increased and decreased, respectively. The FL−40 treatment’s average desalinization rates increased by 16.32% and 13.99% compared with XG−20 and FL−20 treatments’ in 0−60 cm soil layer. In conclusion, FL−40 had a better effect on regulating water and salt. The deep vertical rotary tillage provided an effective method for the control and optimization of water and salt in coastal saline soil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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18 pages, 2548 KiB  
Article
Spatio–Temporal Variability Characteristics of Coastal Soil Salinization and Its Driving Factors Detection
by Ying Song, Mingxiu Gao, Zhuoran Wang, Tengfei Gong and Weifeng Chen
Water 2022, 14(20), 3326; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14203326 - 20 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2122
Abstract
The utilization efficiency of land resources in the coastal area of the Yellow River Delta has been deeply affected by salinization hazards. Key to improvement of the utilization efficiency of resources in this area is to grasp the spatio–temporal variability law of soil [...] Read more.
The utilization efficiency of land resources in the coastal area of the Yellow River Delta has been deeply affected by salinization hazards. Key to improvement of the utilization efficiency of resources in this area is to grasp the spatio–temporal variability law of soil salinity and identify the driving factors of salinization. Wudi County in the coastal area of the Yellow River Delta is taken as the study area. Based on the data obtained from field measurements and laboratory analysis, the characteristics of soil salinity in spring and summer were analyzed by classical statistical methods; the spatial differentiation characteristics of salinization were analyzed from two–dimensional and three–dimensional perspectives using the geographic information system (GIS) and groundwater modeling system (GMS); the time variation characteristics of salinization were quantitatively analyzed by introducing the salinization severity index (Si) and the dominant index of salinization degree change (Ci). The results show that: (1) In the study area, the soil salinity of the surface layer (0–15 cm) in summer is lower than that in spring, but the sub–surface layer (15–30 cm), the middle layer (30–45 cm) and the bottom layer (45–60 cm) are all larger than the corresponding layers in spring, and the correlation between the soil salinity of each layer in summer is generally lower than that in spring. (2) In two–dimensional space, the areas with a surface soil salinity greater than 0.4% in both seasons are mainly located in the northern part of the study area; in three–dimensional space, the soil is mainly moderately salinized in both seasons, and the complexity of the distribution of the salt profile is higher in summer than in spring; (3) Mashanzi Town was the area most seriously affected by salinization in both seasons (Si values were greater than three); In the process of seasonal alternation, the dominant change type of salinized soil is from mild aggravation to moderate, with Ci value of 38.43%, followed by severe alleviation to moderate, with Ci value of 35.49%; (4) The driving factors of soil salinization in spring are mainly the soil salinity of the subsurface and middle layer, and soil water content; and in summer, mainly the soil salinity of subsurface layer, vegetation coverage and vegetation cover type. The interaction between any two factors has greater influence on the spatial variation of salinization than the corresponding single factor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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12 pages, 1348 KiB  
Article
Coastal Soil Salinity Amelioration and Crop Yield Improvement by Biomaterial Addition in East China
by Yunpeng Sun, Xiaobing Chen, Jingsong Yang, Yongming Luo, Rongjiang Yao, Xiangping Wang, Wenping Xie and Xin Zhang
Water 2022, 14(20), 3266; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14203266 - 17 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2719
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of biochar (BC), fulvic acid (FA) and Bacillus subtilis (BS) on soil properties and crop growth in the coastal salt-affected soil. Four levels of BC (0, 7.5, 15, 30 t ha−1), two [...] Read more.
A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of biochar (BC), fulvic acid (FA) and Bacillus subtilis (BS) on soil properties and crop growth in the coastal salt-affected soil. Four levels of BC (0, 7.5, 15, 30 t ha−1), two levels of FA (0, 1.5 t ha−1) and BS suspension (0, 108 CFU mL−1) were designed during the maize cultivation. The results showed that 30 t ha−1 BC treatment was the most beneficial for improving the soil qualities. The grain yields in treatments containing FA and BS were lower than that in the BC treatments, and they were lower than that in the CK treatment. The treatment of 15 t ha−1 BC + BS obtained the highest grain yield, which was 1.75 times more than CK. An antagonism effect of the combination of FA and BS induced a grain yield decrease, and a higher content application of BC alleviated the negative effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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13 pages, 1875 KiB  
Article
Biochar Effects Coastal Saline Soil and Improves Crop Yields in a Maize-Barley Rotation System in the Tidal Flat Reclamation Zone, China
by Yunpeng Sun, Xiaobing Chen, Jingsong Yang, Yongming Luo, Rongjiang Yao, Xiangping Wang, Wenping Xie and Xin Zhang
Water 2022, 14(20), 3204; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14203204 - 12 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2615
Abstract
The summer maize-winter barley (or wheat) rotation system is a conventional farming method in coastal areas of east China. However, researchers have paid little attention to the increasing soil degradation after successive crop rotation in coastal saline agriculture. In the current study, a [...] Read more.
The summer maize-winter barley (or wheat) rotation system is a conventional farming method in coastal areas of east China. However, researchers have paid little attention to the increasing soil degradation after successive crop rotation in coastal saline agriculture. In the current study, a two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the changes in soil physio-chemical properties and crop grain yields under the maize-barley rotation system. Wheat straw derived biochar (BC) was applied to topsoil (0~20 cm) at four different rates (0, 7.5, 15 and 30 Mg ha−1) before summer maize cultivation, and no biochar was added in the cultivation of the winter barley. Bulk density (BD), water holding capacity (WHC), water stable aggregate (WSA), soil electrical conductivity (EC), pH (1:5 water w/v) and soil organic carbon (SOC), at the harvesting time of maize and barley, were analyzed. The application of biochar increased WHC and macro-aggregate (>2 mm) content after barley harvest. Soil EC was mainly affected by the rain during maize cultivation and increased only slightly under BC treatments. However, no difference in EC was found among all treatments after barley harvest. The application of BC at 30 Mg ha−1 increased the maize yield by 66% but produced no difference in the barley yield. We concluded that biochar could be an effective option to mitigate soil degradation and improve crop productivity in coastal saline agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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12 pages, 1312 KiB  
Article
Ecosystem Service Value Response to Different Irrigation and Drainage Practices in a Land Development Project in the Yellow River Delta
by Simeng Chen and Guanghui Jiang
Water 2022, 14(19), 2985; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14192985 - 22 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1691
Abstract
The potential for development of saline land is enormous; the concept has recently attracted great scientific attention regarding its use and development. It is especially crucial to consider the issue of ecological balance when carrying out large-scale land remediation in the Yellow River [...] Read more.
The potential for development of saline land is enormous; the concept has recently attracted great scientific attention regarding its use and development. It is especially crucial to consider the issue of ecological balance when carrying out large-scale land remediation in the Yellow River Delta region since the saline land there is rich in resources and is also typically an ecologically delicate area. In order to quantitatively estimate the value of ecosystem services under various irrigation and drainage modes, this paper uses an undeveloped land development project in the Yellow River Delta as an example, simulates five different irrigation and drainage modes, and combines the market value method and the calculation method of factor equivalents. A quantitative estimation of the ecosystem service value under different irrigation and drainage modes is carried out, exploring the impact of different irrigation and drainage modes on the ecosystem from the perspective of ecosystem service value. The findings revealed that while the “Pipeline irrigation + concealed pipe” irrigation and drainage model increased the area of cultivated land by 4.04 km2, the overall ecological value increased by only Renminbi (RMB) 6.707 × 106. It is clear that only an increase in the area of cultivated land will not increase the ecological value as a whole. Through comparison, it is found that the ecological value of ‘Pipeline irrigation + open ditch’ irrigation and drainage pattern increases the most, which is RMB 28.405 × 106. It can increase the area of cultivated land and protect the ecological benefits to a greater extent, which can better meet the requirements of the current comprehensive development. The study’s findings can serve as a foundation for the sustainable development of the area and the scientific selection of development in ecologically vulnerable coastal areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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14 pages, 1174 KiB  
Article
Manure plus Plastic Film Mulch Reduces Soil Salinity and Improves Barley-Maize Growth and Yield in Newly Reclaimed Coastal Land, Eastern China
by Xiangping Wang, Jingsong Yang, Rongjiang Yao, Wenping Xie and Xing Zhang
Water 2022, 14(19), 2944; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14192944 - 20 Sep 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2203
Abstract
In newly reclaimed coastal soil, saline conditions and nutrient deficiency are the restraining factors for crop yield. Manure and plastic film mulch are proved to play a vital role in reducing soil salt, increasing soil water, and improving soil nutrients and plant growth. [...] Read more.
In newly reclaimed coastal soil, saline conditions and nutrient deficiency are the restraining factors for crop yield. Manure and plastic film mulch are proved to play a vital role in reducing soil salt, increasing soil water, and improving soil nutrients and plant growth. A field experiment was carried out with plastic film mulch, manure, and their combinations in the Tiaozini reclamation area; four treatments were set up as (1) control treatment (CK), (2) plastic film mulch (PM), (3) farmyard manure (FM), and (4) combined application of plastic film mulch and farmyard manure (PM+FM). The main results showed that, compared with CK treatment, the average soil water content under the FM+PM treatment was increased by 5.8% and 3.6%, and the average soil salt content was reduced by 20.2% and 10.0% at 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil layers, respectively. This was because of the decrease in soil bulk density and increase in saturated hydraulic conductivity and saturated water content. Meanwhile, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, and available phosphorus were significantly increased under the PM+FM treatment, except that for AN, which was significantly decreased at the 0–10 cm soil layer owing to plant uptake. Based on the decrease in soil salt, there was an improvement in soil hydraulic properties and soil nutrients, which resulted in summer maize biomass and yield being increased by 106% and 137%, respectively, and barley biomass and yield were increased by 133% and 106%, respectively, under FM+PM treatment. Consequently, combined manure and plastic film mulch application was better at reducing soil salt; increasing soil water content; and improving soil nutrients, plant growth, and yield production in newly reclaimed salt-affected soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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15 pages, 2472 KiB  
Article
The Effect and Influence Mechanism of Soil Salinity on Phosphorus Availability in Coastal Salt-Affected Soils
by Wenping Xie, Jingsong Yang, Shan Gao, Rongjiang Yao and Xiangping Wang
Water 2022, 14(18), 2804; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14182804 - 9 Sep 2022
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 5035
Abstract
Soil salinization is a problem that arouses the world’s attention. Soil salinity is an important limitation for agriculture production in coastal area. Phosphorus is a very important nutrient element in the process of plant growth, and its effectiveness affects plant growth to a [...] Read more.
Soil salinization is a problem that arouses the world’s attention. Soil salinity is an important limitation for agriculture production in coastal area. Phosphorus is a very important nutrient element in the process of plant growth, and its effectiveness affects plant growth to a great extent. In this study, soil available phosphorus and its component in Hedley phosphorus classification were found to be affected by soil salinity in coastal areas of Jiangsu Province. Several key environmental factors changed under the saline environment of the coastal areas, such as soil salinity, soil pH, and soil alkaline phosphatase activity. These environmental factors were significantly correlated with soil available phosphorus. Results showed that there were significant correlations between soil salinity and other environmental factors, and soil salinity and alkaline phosphatase activity were the main influencing factors of soil available phosphorus in this study. Significant positive correlation was found between alkaline phosphatase activity and soil salt content, and soil salinity was considered as the most important impact factor for soil available phosphorus as it affected the surrounding environment, and the soil alkaline phosphatase could be considered as the direct influencing factor for soil available phosphorus. Analysis between the soil alkaline phosphatase activity and phosphorus component showed that soil alkaline phosphatase activity could increase the proportion of active inorganic phosphorus and medium active inorganic phosphorus in soil phosphorus pool, which explained the effect of soil alkaline phosphatase activity on soil available phosphorus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring, Reclamation and Management of Salt-Affected Lands)
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