Improvement of physical, chemical and biochemical proprieties of a salt affected Alfisol by addition of biochar and gypsum

Salinization is one of the major environmental problems threatening agricultural productivity. Soil salinization is defined as an excessive accumulation of salts within the soil profile. It negatively affects soil physical and chemical properties, as well as the biochemical ones. Reclamation of salt affected soils requires removal of soluble salts and Na+ from the soil exchange sites. Subsequently, salts are leached out the root zone by irrigation water when available. Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) is the most commonly used chemical amendment for reclamation of salt affected soils since it provides Ca2+ that replaces Na+ on the exchange sites and improves soil structure. Also organic amendments have …