RESEARCH ARTICLE

EFFECT OF SULPHUR AMENDMENT LEVELS ON CALCAREOUS SALINE SODIC SOIL

AND SQUASH YIELD IN SAUDI ARABIA

*Wakid Mutowal, Samir Gamil Al-Solaimani and Saleh Mahmoud Ismail



Arid Land Agriculture Department, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture
King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia



ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT


Production of vegetable crops under calcareous soil faced many problems, such as soil salinity and
sodicity. Three sulphur amendment levels (SAL) with (0 (control), 4, and 6 ton/ha) was applicated to
study its effect on reclamation of this soil and produce squash crop during 2 successive seasons of
winter and spring (2012-2013). The contents of soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), pH,
electric conductivity (EC), and organic matter (OM) in 2 soil depths ((0-15) cm and (15-30) cm) was
measured as the efficacy parameters of the soil reclamation. The results indicated that SAL 6 ton/ha
gave the best results and significantly decreased soil EC (57.54% and 51.51%) and pH (4.67% and
2.83%) respectively in (0-15) and (15-30) cm soil depth compared with the control. Moreover, the
contents of N, P, K, and OM of the soil increased (16.0% and 68.50%), (29.20% and 26.29%), (14.61%
and 15.85%), and (3.99% and 7.60%) respectively in (0-15) and (15-30) cm soil depth. These results
affected in increasing of squash yield significantly 9.39 ton/ha in winter and 6.11 ton/ha in spring.




Copyright 2013 Wakid Mutowal, et al., This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.



INTRODUCTION
Calcareous saline sodic soils dominated farmlands in Saudi
Arabia (Al-Omran et al., 2005). This soil affected many
problems to cultivate vegetable crops, such as low in soil
nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and organic matter
(OM) and high in soil electric conductivity (EC) and pH. In the
other hand, dry land condition on this are added more problems,
such as scarcity of irrigation water, low irrigation water quality,
high salinity of water and soil, and poor soil fertility. Squash
crop is one of the most widespread and important vegetable
crops in Saudi Arabia. It is a sensitive crop to water and soil
salinity (Al-Omran et al., 2005). Consequently, need a proper
method to enhance the soil quality on this are for producing
squash with the high yield. There are many studies have been
conducted on the reclamation of saline sodic soils, but only
some of them have been focused on calcareous soils (Qadir and
Oster, 2004; Li and Keren, 2009). Some researcher reported
some effects of salinity and sodicity on soil physical properties
(Tejada et al., 2006), soil chemical properties (Ferreras et al.,
2006) and also on plant growth (Gill et al., 2008; Ammari et
al., 2008). This study focused on the effect of sulphur as soil
chemical amendment to reclaim the calcareous saline sodic soil
and increase squash yield.

*Corresponding author: Wakid Mutowal,
Arid Land Agriculture Department, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment
and Arid Land Agriculture King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study conducted at the Agriculture Experimental
Station belongs to King Abdulaziz University (KAU) located at
Hada Alsham, 90 km northeast of Jeddah city. This experiment
carried out during two successive seasons of winter and spring
(2012 and 2013) to study the effect of sulphur as soil chemical
amendment to reclaim this soil and produce squash crop. A
split plot design with three replications used on this experiment.
This made nine plots (2x3 m/plot) corresponding to three
sulphur doses with control (S1), 4 ton/ha (S2), and 6 ton/ha
(S3). Fertilization applied using phosphorus fertilizer (P
2
O
5
:
100 Kg/Ha), potassium fertilizer (K
2
O: 75 Kg/ha) and nitrogen
fertilizer (N: 200 Kg/ha). Phosphorus and potassium fertilizer
applied with the single dose before planting. Nitrogen
fertilizers applied in four times (15, 30, 45 and 60 days after
planting) with the same doses. All initial soil samples was
collected from the experimental field at different depths; 0 to
15 cm and 15 to 30 cm and was analyzed to detect the soil N
content, soil P content, soil K content, soil pH, soil EC, and soil
organic matter. Soil pH and EC was determined by mixing soil
with water 1:1 (W:V) using pH and EC meter. Total OM (%) in
the soil was also determined using the methods that described
by (Pansu and Gautheyrou, 2006). Total soil N content was
measured by Kjeletec Auto 1030 analyzer using the methods
that described by (Pansu and Gautheyrou, 2006). Total (P), (K)
was measured using the extraction digestion method with

ISSN: 0976-3376
Asian Journal of Science and Technology
Vol. 4, Issue 12, pp.048-051, December, 2013

Available Online at http://www.journalajst.com


ASIAN JOURNAL OF
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Article History:
Received 24
th
September, 2013
Received in revised form
05
th
October, 2013
Accepted 19
th
November, 2013
Published online 20
th
December, 2013
Key words:
Sulphur;
Calcareous soil;
Soil Chemical Characteristics;
Soil Reclamation;
Squash yield.

perchloric and nitric acids. Soil content of P was determined
using Spectrophotometer at light wave 640 nanometer. Soil
content of potassium (K) was determined using VARIAN (ICP-
Optical Emission Spectrometer). After the harvesting of squash
crop, soil samples in each treatment collected again at the
different depths (0-15 cm and 15-30 cm). Each sample placed
in a plastic bag and thoroughly mixed to make the sample
homogeneous for testing. Each sample was analyzed for soil
pH, EC, OM%, total and available N, P, and K. Methods of
analysis was done exactly the same as those used for the initial
soil analysis. The squash yield in each plot recorded in
harvesting time, then converted into ton/ha unit. The collected
data in each experiment statistically analyzed using the analysis
of variance procedures after applying the ANOVA assumptions
then the treatment means separated and tested using LSD test
using SAS program.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Soil Chemical Characteristics

Analysis of variance (ANOVA) in Table (1) showed that
Sulphur significantly (p < 0.01) affected to the soil N, P, and K
in both soil depths.

Table 1. ANOVA of soil macronutrient under sulphur doses

Source of Variation Replication Sulphur (a) Error "a"
df 2 2 4
N (ppm) 0-15 cm 0.00 23.38 ** 0.05
15-30 cm 0.00 17.19 ** 0.05
P (mg/l) 0-15 cm 0.01 70.26 ** 0.08
15-30 cm 0.00 60.60 ** 0.15
K (%) 0-15 cm 0.91 1134.50 ** 1.87
15-30 cm 0.41 1208.31 ** 2.58
Ns: Not significant; *, **: significant at p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 of probability
respectively



Figure 1. Effect of sulphur doses on soil macronutrient

N content in soil surface (0-15 cm soil depth) decreased after
experiment and significantly increased in 15-30 cm soil depth
(Figure 1). In the control, N content in the upper layer was
decreased and in the deeper layer was increased after
experiment. It showed that the availability of N in soil surface
washed by the water irrigation and accumulated in the deeper
layer. N content under 4 ton/ha and 6 ton/ha of sulphur
respectively was higher than control in both layers. It indicated
that adding sulphur in the soil increased N content of the
calcareous soil. (Yin et al., 2007; Abdelgadir et al., 2010)
found the same results that applied sulphur increasing soil
nitrogen content and increasing soil fertility. The highest soil
phosphor content presented by sulphur with the dose 6 ton/ha
(Figure 1). Soil phosphor content in upper layer increased
respectively from the initial soil, control, 4 ton/ha, and 6 ton/ha
sulphur doses. For the deeper layer, soil phosphor content
decreased in the control treatment. Then continuously increased
by using 4 ton/ha and 6 ton/ha of sulphur. Applied sulphur with
doses 4 ton/ha and 6 ton/ha increased the soil phosphor content.
It indicated that adding sulphur fertilizer increased soil
phosphor content (Chabra et al., 1976; Singh et al., 1995)
found the same result with this experiment. They explained that
increasing soil fertilizer will increasing activity of
mycobacterial and decomposed inaccessible phosphor to be
accessible phosphor. Initial soil K content in deeper layer
higher than upper layer. Nevertheless, the soil K content in
upper layer higher than deeper layer after experiment (Figure
1). Soil K content after experiment increased according to the
increasing sulphur doses in both layers. Qi et al. (2004) was in
agreement with this result. They found that applied sulphur
fertilizer in the salt condition increased potassium content of
the soil.

Soil EC, pH, and OM

The effect of sulphur doses to soil EC, pH, and OM presented
in variance analysis. Sulphur significantly affected to the soil
EC, pH and OM in both soil depths (p < 0.01), except the soil
OM in 0-15 cm soil depth with p < 0.05 (Table 2).

Table 2. ANOVA of soil pH, EC and OM under sulphur doses

Source of Variation Replication Sulphur (a) Error "a"
df 2 2

4
pH 0-15 cm 7.47 3547.66 ** 2.98

15-30 cm 2.65 2444.00 ** 0.96
EC (mS) 0-15 cm 596.08 221658.21 ** 282.51

15-30 cm 253.15 111742.56 ** 10.72
OM (%) 0-15 cm 4129.12 1961546.36 * 1648.79

15-30 cm 1988.85 1833546.07 ** 724.01
Ns: Not significant; *, **: significant at p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 of probability
respectively


Figure 2. Effect of sulphur doses on soil pH, EC and OM

Figure (2) showed that increasing the doses of sulphur
decreased the soil EC. The highest soil EC occurred on the
049 Asian Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 4, Issue 12, pp.048-051, December, 2013

control and the lowest soil EC happened on the 6 ton/ha
sulphur dose. This result is in agreement with (Mass et al.,
1988; Hoffman et al., 1989). They explained that Sulphuric
acid formed from higher levels of sulphur not only removed
sodium from the soil complex but also calcium and both could
be percolated from the soil by leaching. Figure (2) showed that
increasing sulphur doses to the soil reduced the soil pH. The
lowest pH resulted by the highest doses of sulphur and the
highest soil pH given by the lowest doses of sulphur. The same
results reported by (Ashraf, 2001). Sulphur increased the
activity of some mycrobacteria that played a role in
preventative Na and Ca element to make salt formation in the
soil. In particular form, Na and Ca was no dangerous for plant.
Increasing the doses of sulphur doses increased the soil OM.
Figure (2) showed that the soil OM is very small in the control.
The opposite result occurred in the highest doses of sulphur,
which resulted the highest soil OM. (Marschner and Bredow,
2002) reported the same result with this experiment. They
explained that increasing soil OM caused by the function of
sulphur to build the salt in particular plant.

Squash Yield

The ability of sulphur to increase the soil quality in calcareous
saline sodic soil evidenced by increasing squash yield. Sulphur
significantly affected to the squash yield (p < 0.01) in both
seasons (Table 3).

Table 3. ANOVA of squash yield under sulphur doses doses

Source of Variation Replication Sulphur (a) Error "a"
df 2 2

4
Yield (ton/ha) - Winter 7.47 3547.66 ** 2.98
Yield (ton/ha) - Spring 2.65 2444.00 ** 0.96
Ns: Not significant; *, **: significant at p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 of probability
respectively


Figure 3. Effect of sulphur doses on squash fruit yield

The highest squash yield resulted by 6 ton/ha of sulphur
(Figure 3). This treatment increased squash yield significantly
9.39 ton/ha in winter and 6.11 ton/ha in spring. The effect
models of sulphur doses to the squash yield are y = 0.6882x
2
+
1.9432x + 6.2744 with R
2
= 100% in winter and y = 0.9271x
2
-
0.6441x + 8.3151 with R
2
= 100% in spring. This result might
be caused by the ability of sulphur to decrease soil EC and pH
and increase soil N, P, K and OM. Guzys et al. (2005) reported
the same result with this experiment. They found that
increasing sulphur increased the yield of some vegetable crops.
They expressed that increasing the sulphur improve the soil
macronutrient content and the capability of squash to uptake
water and nutrient from the soil. The other roles of sulphur are
as a catalyst for certain enzyme activity (Kopriva and
Rennenberg, 2004), increasing the plant to uptake nutrient from
the soil (Schnug et al., 1993) and increasing photosynthesis
(Capon, 2010).
Conclusions

Sulphur as a soil chemical amendment significantly reclaimed
the soil chemical properties in calcareous saline sodic soil with
6 ton/ha sulphur dose as the best treatment. The results
indicated that 6 ton/ha sulphur dose significantly decreased EC
(57.54% and 51.51%) and pH (4.67% and 2.83%) respectively
in (0-15) and (15-30) cm soil depth compared with the control.
Moreover, the contents of N, P, K, and OM of the soil
increased (16.0% and 68.50%), (29.20% and 26.29%), (14.61%
and 15.85%), and (3.99% and 7.60%) respectively in (0-15)
and (15-30) cm soil depth. These results affected in increasing
squash yield significantly 9.39 ton/ha in winter and 6.11 ton/ha
in spring.

Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank King Abdullah City Science and
Technology (KACST) for their financial support. Authors are
also grateful to the Arid Land Agriculture Department at King
Abdulaziz University for using equipments to analyze samples.

REFERENCE

Abdelgadir, E.M., Fadul, E.M., Fageer, E.A. & Ali, E.A. 2010.
Response of wheat to nitrogen fertilizer at reclaimed high
terrace salt-affected soils in Sudan. Journal of Agriculture
& Social Sciences, 6, 43-47, ISSN 1813 2235.
Al-Omran, A.M., A.S. Sheta, A.M. Falatah, A.R. Al-Harbi.
2005. Effect Of Drip Irrigation On Squash (Cucurbita
Pepo) Yield And Water-Use Efficiency In Sandy
Calcareous Soils Amended With Clay Deposits.
Agricultural Water Management. 73 (1), 43-55.
Ammari, T.G., Tahboub, A.B., Saoub, H.M., Hattar, B.I., Al-
Zubi, Y.A., 2008. Salt removal ef?ciency as in?uenced by
phyto-amelioration of salt-affected soils. Journal of Food
Agriculture and Environment 6, 456-460.
Ashraf, M. 2001. Relationships between growth and gas
exchange characteristics in some salt-tolerant
amphidiploid Brassica species in relation to their
diploid parents. Environmental and Experimental Botany,
45, 155-163.
Capon, B. 2010. Botany for Gardeners: An Introduction and
Guide, 3rd edition. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press.
Chabra, R., Ringoet, A. & Lamberts, D. 1976. Kinetic and
interaction of chloride and phosphate ahsorption hy intact
tomato plants from a dilute nutrient solution. Zeitschrift
fur Pflanzenphysiologie 78, 253-261.
Ferreras, L., Gomez, E., Toresani, S., Firpo, I., Rotondo, R.,
2006. Effect of organic amendments on some physical,
chemical and biological properties in a horti- cultural soil.
Bioresource Technology 97, 635-640.
Gill, J.S., Sale, P.W.G., Tang, C., 2008. Amelioration of dense
sodic subsoil using organic amendments increases wheat
yield more than using gypsum in a high rainfall zone of
southern Australia. Field Crops Research 107, 265-275.
Guzys, S. and Aksomaitiene, R. 2005. Migration of sulphur in
limed soils differing in agricultural management. Nutr.
Cycl. Agroecosyst. 71:191-201.
Hoffman, G.J., P.B. Catlin, R.M. Mead, R.S. Johnson, L.E.
Franois, D. Goldhamer. 1989. Yield and foliar injury
responses of mature plum trees to salinity. Irrig. Sci., 10,
215-229.
050 Asian Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 4, Issue 12, pp.048-051, December, 2013

Kopriva, S., Rennenberg, H., 2004. Control of sulphate
assimilation and glutathione synthesis: interaction with N
and C metabolism. J. Exp. Bot. 55, 1831-1842.
Li, F.H., Keren, R., 2009. Calcareous sodic soil reclamation as
affected by corn stalk application and incubation: a
laboratory study. Pedosphere 19 (4), 465-475.
Marschner, B., A. Bredow. 2002. Temperature Effects on
Release And Ecologically Relevant Properties Of
Dissolved Organic Carbon In Sterilised And Biologically
Active Soil Samples. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 34,
459-466.
Mass, E.V., T.J. Donovan, L.E. Francois. 1988. Salt tolerance
of irrigated guayule. Irrig. Sci., 9, 199-211.
Pansu, M. and Gautheyrou, J. 2006. Handbook of soil
Analysis: Mineralogical, Organic and inorganic Methods.
Springer, Netherlands. XIX. 993p.
Qadir, M., Oster, J.D., 2004. Review, crop and irrigation
management strategies for saline-sodic soils and waters
aimed at environmentally sustainable agriculture. Science
of the Total Environment 323, 1-19.









































Qi, Z. & Spalding, E.P. 2004. Protection of plasma membrane
K+ transport by the salt overly sensitive Na+-H+ antiporter
during salinity stress. Plant Physiology, 136, 2548- 2555.
Schnug, E., Haneklaus, S., Murphy, D., 1993. Impact of
Sulphur fertilization on fertilizer nitrogen efficiency.
Sulphur Agric. 17, 8-12.
Singh, V., Gupta, M.K., Rajwanshi, P., Mishra, S., Srivastava,
S., Srivastava, R., Srivastava, M.M., Prakash, S. & Dass, S.
1995. Plant uptake of fluoride in irrigation water by
ladyfinger (Abelmorchus esculentus). Food and Chemical
Toxicology, 33, 399-402.
Tejada, M., Garcia, C., Gonzalez, J.L., Hernandez, M.T.,
2006. Use of organic amendment as a strategy for saline
soil remediation: in?uence on the physical, chemical and
biological properties of soil. Soil Biology and Biochemistry
38, 1413-1421.
Yin, F., Fu, B. & Mao, R. 2007. Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer
Application Rates on Nitrate Nitrogen Distribution in
Saline Soil in the Hai River Basin, China. Journal of Soils
and Sediments, 7, 136-142.




*******
051 Asian Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 4, Issue 12, pp.048-051, December, 2013