Effect of Super-Absorbent and Vermicompost at Different Levels of Irrigation Water Salinity on Some Soil Chemical Properties

Soil chemical properties are important because they may have significant effect on the soil physical properties, activity of microorganisms and plant growth. For improving soil chemical properties under different levels of irrigation water salinity, a field experiment on clay loam soil was done as factorial with basic block design in four levels of irrigation water salinity (0.79, 5, 10, 15 dS m-1) and treatments of super absorbent (0.02 Kg m-2), vermicompost (1.5 Kg m-2) and without amendment. After irrigation and passing three months, soil electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon content and pH were measured in three replications. Electrical conductivities (dS m-1), organic carbon (%) and pH for the without amendment plots were 4.24, 1.99 and 7.84, for the plots treatment by vermicompost were 3.68, 2.17 and 8.05, and for the plots treatment by super absorbent were 4.18, 1.98, and 7.97, respectively. The results showed the organic carbon and pH were significantly increased and soil EC was significantly decreased by treatment. The super absorbent increased the pH and decreased the EC significantly, but it had no significant effect on soil organic carbon. Soil electrical conductivity and organic carbon retention were significantly increased and soil pH was decreased by increasing water salinity. Overall, vermicompost showed better performance than super absorbent, because it decreased soil salinity in high water salinity and increased soil organic carbon.