Preliminary use of a fulvic acid, as a strategy to improve water use in saline soils

Preliminary use of a fulvic acid, as a strategy to improve water use in saline soils

Authors

  • Cristián Kremer Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Agronómicas. Departamento de Ingeniería y Suelos. Avenida Santa Rosa 11315. La Pintana, Santiago. Chile
  • José Díaz Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Agronómicas. Departamento de Ingeniería y Suelos. Avenida Santa Rosa 11315. La Pintana, Santiago. Chile
  • Oscar Seguel https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0211-0903
  • Yasna Tapia Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Agronómicas. Departamento de Ingeniería y Suelos. Avenida Santa Rosa 11315. La Pintana, Santiago. Chile

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48162/rev.39.016

Keywords:

soil conditioner, humic acid, soil electric conductivity, leaching fraction

Abstract

An evaluation of a fulvic acid (FA) was made in a Loam soil, by selecting the best dose to achieve salt displacement under a drip emitter. In trial 1, PVC columns were filled with a loam soil and irrigated with a KCl solution of electrical conductivity (EC) of 12.5 dS m-1. Once the soil solution EC reached the value of the KCl solution, FA doses of 0, 2.1, 5.3 and 10.5 kg ha-1 were applied. The bulk electric conductivity and soil chemical properties were evaluated after 6 irrigation cycles. In trial 2, the same soil salinized with the KCl solution was placed in 0.8 m3 containers. Two irrigations treatments were performed: a control and the best FA dose from trial 1. The displacement of the salt bulb created from irrigation with a dropper in the soil profile was characterized. In trial 1, the dose of 5.3 kg ha-1 reached the lowest EC after the third irrigation. In trial 2, the selected dose reduced EC until 3.75 dS m-1 at 0.3 m depth at the third irrigation, saving 246 L of water compared to control. Additionally, the salinity bulbs were more horizontally extended in the FA treatment.

Highlights:

  • Application of FA (5.3 kg ha -1) reduced the water use by 50% compared to leaching carried out exclusively with water.
  • The use of Fulvic acid showed to be an alternative to consider in the recovery of saline soils under drip irrigation when irrigation water is scarce.
  • Little or not residual effect was found after the use of Fulvic acid.

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Published

07-07-2021

Issue

Section

Natural resources and environment