Effects of straw layer and brackish water irrigation on water-salt distribution and pore structure properties of coastal saline soil
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Objective To enhance salinity leaching efficiency and prevent soil resalinization under brackish water irrigation. Method this study investigated the combined effects of straw layer applications and water mineralization levels on soil water-salt distribution through controlled soil column experiments.Three straw layer application rates 0 t（0SL），0.75 t（LSL），and 1.50 t（HSL）per 667 m2 were established in combination with two brackish water treatments［3 g/L（LBW）and 5 g/L（HBW）］.CT nondestructive scanning technology was employed to analyze soil pore structure characteristics. Result （1）Brackish water irrigation effectively reduced soil electrical conductivity（EC）in the 0-<80 cm layer to below background levels（2.00 mS/cm），with HBW treatments maintaining higher EC values than LBW treatments under equivalent straw application conditions.（2）At the end of the submersible evapotranspiration test，the average soil water content and EC of the LSL and HSL treatments were less than that of the 0SL treatment in the 0-<20 cm soil layer，and the average soil water content was greater than that of the 0SL treatment in the 20-100 cm soil layer in both the LSL and HSL treatments.（3）The total number of pores in LSL and HSC exceeded 79.68%（LBW）and 31.89%（HBW），as well as 99.03%（LBW）and 101.66%（HBW）of 0SL.The variation in the number of capillary pores was significant，with increases of 28.91%（LBW）and 26.22%（HBW），76.86%（LBW）and 72.76%（HBW），and 80.73%（LBW）and 79.40%（HBW）for 0SL，LSL，and HSL，respectively，under the brackish water leaching treatment.（4）Compared with 0SL，the straw layer enhanced soil porosity，pore connectivity，pore structure complexity，and the capacity for soil water infiltration. Conclusion In conclusion，the application of straw layers in conjunction with brackish water irrigation significantly enhances the efficiency of salinity leaching and mitigates the resalting of surface soil.This improvement is primarily attributed to the capacity of straw layers to enhance the soil’s pore structure and decrease water evaporation from deeper soil layers.This study serves as a valuable reference for the comprehensive improvement and utilization of coastal saline soils，addressing the scarcity of agricultural freshwater resources and promoting sustainable agricultural development.
DOI: 10.3724/aauj.2026024
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Award: G8254151483
OpenAlex ID: W7128490161
FWCI:
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: