Soil degradation resulting from soil salinity and sodicityis a major problem under arid and semiarid
climates. Nearly 831 million hectares of land are salt-affected worldwide. The
high salt concentration negatively affects soil physical and chemical
properties as well as soil microbial activity, thus causing a decline in soil
productivity. It has led to the depletion of soil organic carbon, decline in
biomass production, contamination of water resources, and emission of
greenhouse gases such as CO₂ at an accelerated rate. The initial
hydration of sodic clays leads to slaking and swelling while continuous
hydration results in dispersion of clay particles. Saline and sodic soils
usually suffer from poor physical properties, including high bulk density, low
macroporosity and aggregate stability. Therefore, management of such soils is
challenging. The fundamental issue of soil quality improvement may in a
long-term have a aim to restore an earlier state for the required crop
production purposes or to limit and/or slowing down the further deterioration,
in order to reservations the original values and features of the soil
properties. Appropriate tillage is key factor for mitigation of negative
effect, while application of organic matter through various sources is another
amelioration strategy for salt-affected soils. These procedures affect soil
physical, chemical and biological properties. Tillage improves aeration and
alleviates compaction while organic matter promotes binding soil particles into
aggregates. Present paper present positive aspect of tillage and amendment
addition (gypsum, farmyard manure, sulfur) on properties of saline-sodic soils
using available literature.

management, aggregates, amelioration, gypsum, manure

Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, CROATIA
Sponsored by Ministry Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia