The use of elemental sulfur for reclamation of saline-sodic soils in the lower Seyhan Plain

This study was carried out to investigate the possibilities of using elemental sulfur with different application rates and various incubation durations on the salt transport and exchangeable sodium percentage of the saline-sodic soils. The study was conducted under controlled conditions at the Agricultural Structures and Irrigation Laboratory. In the experiment, the Lower Seyhan Plain saline-sodic soil were used. Air dry degraded soil samples of the same amount were mixed with different sulfur contents, (2, 4, 6, 8 g/kg). The mixtures were incubated for 30 and 60 days in an incubator at 28 °C and at water retention capacity of 50%. Leachings were carried out by applying 3 cm of water to each treatment. Leachings were repeated at every 48 hour time span. It was determined that the tested elemental sulfur rates impacted the leaching of salts differently depending on the incubation duration. In this study, the maximum pH reduction was obtained at 30-day incubation period. The average pH level of all sulfur levels with 60-day incubation period was determined to be about 13% greater than that with 30-day incubation period. Impacts of sulfur rates and incubation durations on reduction in exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) were found to be statistically different at the confidence level of 99%. The statistical analysis showed that a 30-day incubation period with 6.2 g/kg of sulfur was the most effective treatment in exchangeable sodium percentage reduction. In the study, it was determined that, at the begining of the leaching process, the longer incubation duration resulted in an aggregation in the soil structure and in a decrease in ECe values by reducing the soluability of several elements. During the leaching process, the ECe values increased as the solubility of the anions and cations were increased. As a result of this process, the amount of water necessary for the leaching were increased.