Sodyum tuzunun etkisinde olan toprakların hidrofiziksel özelliklerinin geliştirilmesinde biyoçar ve kompost uygulamalarının etkisi

A greenhouse experiment was conducted from Oct 2022 to Jan 2023 in the Agriculture faculty of Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey to study the efficacy of organic amendments (Biochar and Compost) on the hydro physical properties of salt-affected soils. Three different soils namely: Saline, Saline sodic, and Sodic were made artificially by adding the different salt contents where high concentrations of Ca and Mg were added in saline soil, and high NaCl content was added in Sodic soil and Saline sodic was the mixture of two soils. A single-factor Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) design with three replications was followed. The Results indicate significant alterations in various soil properties. An elevated level of sodium salt in the sodic and saline-sodic soil possesses a significant impact on the properties of the soil. ESP was significantly (p<0.01) higher in sodic and saline-sodic soil compared to saline soil. Organic carbon and CEC were significantly lower in sodic and saline soil relative to saline soil. Other soil properties like DR, AS, SSI, and Ks were also negatively influenced by the harmful effect of sodium salt in sodic and saline-sodic soil. In contrast, the biochar and/or compost amendments exhibited a positive effect on the properties of soil measured for three soils. The pH of the soil exhibited notable changes, with compost-treated soils experiencing a significant reduction, while biochar application led to a substantial increase in pH across all three salt-affected soils. Organic carbon content and Cation exchange capacity (CEC) were significantly enhanced in all amended soils. Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) exhibited a clear decline in all amended soils, lowering soil sodicity. Bulk density (BD) values were significantly lower in amended soils compared to the control. Dispersion ratio (DR) was significantly decreased and Total porosity (F), Aggregate stability (AS), Structural Stability index (SSI), and Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) increased significantly in amended soils, enabling better soil structure, water infiltration, and retention in amended soils. Moreover, amendments positively influenced soil moisture constants, including field capacity (FC), permanent wilting point (PWP), and plant available water (PAW). These findings underscore the effectiveness of biochar and compost amendments in reclaiming and improving the hydro-physical properties of salt-affected soils, thereby offering valuable insights into sustainable soil management strategies for agricultural productivity in challenging environments.