Sulfuric acid as a chemical amendment for increasing efficiency of reclamation process of salt affected soils of Iraq

Suad A. Al-Saedi, Baydaa H. A. Al-Ameri, Ibrahim B. Razaq, Ayad Gh. Rasheed

Net Journal of Agricultural Science
Published: August 27 2018
Volume 6, Issue 3
Pages 49-52
DOl: https://doi.org/10.30918/NJAS.63.18.022

Abstract

Diluted solutions of sulfuric acid were evaluated, as a leaching solution, in comparison with water for reclamation of salt affected soils of Iraq. Sulfuric acid was used to liberate Ca²⁺ of the native soil lime so as to replace Na⁺ on the exchange sites. Solutions of 0.05 and 0.1 N sulfuric acid resulted in remarkable increase in the hydraulic conductivity (HC) of both soils over when water was used as a leaching solution. Electrical conductivity of the leachate of both soils leached with water was less than that when the two soils were leached with either 0.05 or 0.1 N acid solutions. Total salts which remained in soils leached with water were markedly higher than that leached with the acid. Amount of Na⁺ removed as an average of both soils was 62, 50 and 42% under 0.1 N, 0.05 N H₂SO₄ and distilled water, respectively. Thus leaching of such soils by appropriate solution of sulfuric acid is highly efficient in removing sodium salts out of soil profile. And for that matter it is highly recommended for use in reclamation projects in Iraq.

Keywords: Leaching solution, Na, Ca, Mg.

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