In Egypt, the total area of agricultural land is 3.36 million acres, which is 3.8% of the country entire territory. One of the main obstacles to agricultural production in Egypt is soil salinization and degradation. Therefore, saline-sodic soil reclamation in arid regions is highly relevant. This study aimed to use Azospirillum inoculation with eco-friendly organic wastes for free remediation of saline-sodic soils. In this work, nine treatments included two levels of spent grain (S1 and S2), two levels of compost (C1 and C2), a mix of both sources (C1S1), Azospirillum (A1), a mix of both sources with Azospirillum (A1S1 and A1C1) and untreated control. The treatments were previously incubated with soil at field capacity for five months under laboratory conditions at 28°C. The most relevant chemical and biological parameters were analyzed every month for five months. Results indicate that Azospirillum inoculation with spent grain increased soil organic carbon (TOC), dehydrogenase and urease enzymes, micro-nutrients iron (Fe 2+), zinc (Zn 2+), manganese (Mn 2+), copper (Cu 2+), and boron (B+), and macro-nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K); while decreased exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), pH and EC, by 75%, 12%, and 43% respectively, compared to initial conditions. A significant variation was observed in chemical and biological properties among all treatments in the order of S2 ≥ A1S1> A1 > C2 > C1S1 > A1C1 > C1 > control > initial. In conclusion, the addition of Azospirillum with the spent grain is highly recommended for the saline-sodic soil amelioration. It is more effective than compost to remediate and enhance saline-sodic soils fertility.

Translated title of the contributionОрганические добавки в сочетании с ризобактериями, стимулирующими рост растений (Azospirillum brasilense), как экологически безопасный побочный продукт для восстановления и повышения плодородия засоленных содовых почв в Египте
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1416-1433
Number of pages18
JournalCommunications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis
Volume52
Issue number12
Early online date16 Mar 2021
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

    Scopus subject areas

  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Soil Science

ID: 75437344