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Soil salinity and water quality
Agricultural water management ELSEVIER
Agricultural
Water Management
33 (1997) 215-217
Book review Soil Salinity and Water Quality, by R. Chhabra, A.A. Balkema field, VT, USA, 1966, 284 pp., ISBN 90-5410-727-8.
Publishers,
Brook-
The research and farming experience created in India since about 1960 is the primary source of material for this book. Publications by scientists from India make up about one-half of the approximately 300 literature citations. Two chapters are important contributions: Chapter 5 “Principles Governing Fertilisation of Salt-affected Soils” and Chapter 9 “Grasses and Trees as Alternate Strategies for Management of Salt-affected Soils.” The chapter about soil fertility divides soils into two groups; alkaline and saline. The word ‘alkali’ identifies a sodic soil, where the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) is greater than 15, the saturated soil pH is greater than 8.2, and the predominant anions are bicarbonate and carbonate. Nutrients discussed include Ca, N, P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, B, MO, and F. The discussion of the impacts of soil chemical and physical properties on chemical forms, nutrient availability, and fertilizer management are reinforced by data presented in tables and figures. A summary of the information provided for each nutrient is beyond the scope of this review; however, it is appropriate to abstract some of the information for Ca, N, and P to illustrate the scope of the presentation. The low availability of Ca in alkaline soils, because of low calcite solubility and the antagonistic effect of Na on Ca uptake and crop yield is supported by crop data. Nitrogen-related topics include pH effects on biological mediated transformations, volatilization losses, and symbiotic fixation. For P, the topics include the effects of soil salinity on Olsen’s P, sorption of P as affected by soil ESP, and the impacts of high Na concentrations and pH on P solubility and leachability. The discussion of salinity impacts on soil fertility offers insights which differ somewhat from those enunciated in reviews written by Maas (1990) and Shalhevet (1994). The following statements are located on page 142: “harmful effects of low to moderate salinity can be alleviated by judicious use of fertilisers or plant nutrients,” and “For most crop plants, yield decreases with increase in salinity but for a given salinity level the yields can be increased by application of fertilisers.” In comparison, Shalhevet (1994) states “The level of soil fertility does not influence the salinity response function, although it may strongly affect the absolute yield level”. Maas (1990) states “Unless salinity causes specific nutritional imbalances, fertilizer applications exceeding that required under nonsaline conditions have rarely helped to alleviate the inhibition of 037%3774/97/$17.00 Published PII SO37X-3774(97)00003-6
by Elsevier Science B.V.
216
Book review
growth by salinity”. The author does cover the original thoughts of Bernstein et al. (1974) about the possible interactions between salinity and fertility, and much of the fertility information in the book is consistent with the application by Shalhevet (1994) and Maas (1990) of Bernstein’s ideas. However, the effects of alkalinity (sodicity) and salinity on plant growth and nutrition involve complex processes. Depending somewhat on the viewpoint of the reader, this chapter may provide evidence for some of the situations where increasing the fertility status of the soil can partially offset salinity effects which are consistent with the carefully crafted position taken by Maas. Exploitation of salt-tolerant grasses and trees to use salt-affected soils and brackish drainage waters, in Chapter 9, is a timely subject. Disposal of saline drainage waters, or more to the point, the salts they contain, is a problem common to most irrigated areas, particularly those that have no access to the ocean. The knowledge base is closely associated with the author. The tables of grasses, bushes, and trees suitable for alkaline and for saline soils will be particularly useful. The topics include site characterization, planting techniques, drainage and fertilization needs, and yield data in response to various management treatments. Use of wastewaters for irrigation, covered in Chapter 7, addresses their nutrient potential, pollution and toxic element hazards, and health hazards owing to the presence of enteric pathogens, and the impact on water quality in terms of salinity, sodicity, and specific ion hazards. Guidelines for cropping systems in relation to degree of sewage treatment are included with a special focus on sewage utilization through forestry. This chapter provides perspectives on conditions and situations in India, but does not relate them to wastewater use in other countries. The references Health Guidelines for the Use of Wastewater in Agriculture and Aquaculture published by the World Health Organization in 1989, and Guidelines for Water Reuse published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 are not cited. Five chapters deal with diagnosis and management of alkaline and saline soils, water quality, and irrigation management for salinity control. A the noteworthy characteristic of these chapters is that much of the soil chemistry, published by authors from countries other than from India, predates 1970. I will illustrate this perception with two examples. Firstly, measurements of residual sodium carbonate and pH are recommended as methods which account for the effects of calcite and magnesite precipitation on the potential sodicity hazard of a water. One of several problems with these methods is that calcium and magnesium are assumed to be equally suspectible to precipitation in the form of calcite and magnesite. However, magnesite is several orders of magnitude more soluble than calcite. A considerable body of work was published, beginning in the late 1960s and continuing through the 197Os, which resulted in nomograms and computer programs for use in water-quality assessment which better account for the effects of mineral solubilities, ionic strength, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide on calcite precipitation at the soil surface and through the rootzone. Secondly, although the threshold concepts of Quirk and Schofield (1955), in relation to the effects of salinity and sodicity on water permeability, are discussed, these chapters do not cover the publications of various authors from Australia, Israel and South Africa, or the U.S. authors who, since about 1975, have continued the development of this concept and its application.
Book review
217
In summary, the author has documented and synthesized the contributions of research scientists in India on the topics covered in the book. In my library, because of this documentation and the contents of Chapters 5 and 9, this book will be located next to FAO publications No. 29, Review 1 (Ayers and Westcot, 1986) and No. 48 (Rhoades et al., 19921, and Agricultural Salinity Assessment and Management by K.K. Tanji (1990).
Department
J.D. OSTER Professor of Soil Science University of California of Soil Science and Environmental Sciences Riverside CA 92521, USA E-mail: [email protected]
References Ayers, R.S., Westcot, D.W., 1985.Water quality for agriculture.Inigation and Drainage Paper No. 29, Review 1. FAO, Rome, Italy. Bernstein, L., Francois, L.E., Clark, R.A., 1974. Interactive effects of salinity and fertility on yield of grains and vegetables. Agronomy Journal 66, 412-421. Maas, E.V., 1990. Crop salt tolerance. In: Tanji, K.K. (Ed.), Salinity Assessment and Management. American Society of Civil Engineers Manuals and Reports on Engineering Practice No. 71. AXE, New York, pp. 262-304. Rhoades, J.D., Kanadiah, A., Mashali, A.M., 1992. The use of saline waters for crop production. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 48. Rome. Shalhevet, J., 1994. Using water of marginal quality for crop production: major issues. Agricultural Water Management 25, 233-269. Tanji, K.K. (Ed.), 1990. Agricultural Salinity Assessment and Management. AXE Manuals and Reports on Engineering Practice No. 71. ASCE. New York.
Agricultural
Water Management
33 (1997) 215-217
Book review Soil Salinity and Water Quality, by R. Chhabra, A.A. Balkema field, VT, USA, 1966, 284 pp., ISBN 90-5410-727-8.
Publishers,
Brook-
The research and farming experience created in India since about 1960 is the primary source of material for this book. Publications by scientists from India make up about one-half of the approximately 300 literature citations. Two chapters are important contributions: Chapter 5 “Principles Governing Fertilisation of Salt-affected Soils” and Chapter 9 “Grasses and Trees as Alternate Strategies for Management of Salt-affected Soils.” The chapter about soil fertility divides soils into two groups; alkaline and saline. The word ‘alkali’ identifies a sodic soil, where the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) is greater than 15, the saturated soil pH is greater than 8.2, and the predominant anions are bicarbonate and carbonate. Nutrients discussed include Ca, N, P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, B, MO, and F. The discussion of the impacts of soil chemical and physical properties on chemical forms, nutrient availability, and fertilizer management are reinforced by data presented in tables and figures. A summary of the information provided for each nutrient is beyond the scope of this review; however, it is appropriate to abstract some of the information for Ca, N, and P to illustrate the scope of the presentation. The low availability of Ca in alkaline soils, because of low calcite solubility and the antagonistic effect of Na on Ca uptake and crop yield is supported by crop data. Nitrogen-related topics include pH effects on biological mediated transformations, volatilization losses, and symbiotic fixation. For P, the topics include the effects of soil salinity on Olsen’s P, sorption of P as affected by soil ESP, and the impacts of high Na concentrations and pH on P solubility and leachability. The discussion of salinity impacts on soil fertility offers insights which differ somewhat from those enunciated in reviews written by Maas (1990) and Shalhevet (1994). The following statements are located on page 142: “harmful effects of low to moderate salinity can be alleviated by judicious use of fertilisers or plant nutrients,” and “For most crop plants, yield decreases with increase in salinity but for a given salinity level the yields can be increased by application of fertilisers.” In comparison, Shalhevet (1994) states “The level of soil fertility does not influence the salinity response function, although it may strongly affect the absolute yield level”. Maas (1990) states “Unless salinity causes specific nutritional imbalances, fertilizer applications exceeding that required under nonsaline conditions have rarely helped to alleviate the inhibition of 037%3774/97/$17.00 Published PII SO37X-3774(97)00003-6
by Elsevier Science B.V.
216
Book review
growth by salinity”. The author does cover the original thoughts of Bernstein et al. (1974) about the possible interactions between salinity and fertility, and much of the fertility information in the book is consistent with the application by Shalhevet (1994) and Maas (1990) of Bernstein’s ideas. However, the effects of alkalinity (sodicity) and salinity on plant growth and nutrition involve complex processes. Depending somewhat on the viewpoint of the reader, this chapter may provide evidence for some of the situations where increasing the fertility status of the soil can partially offset salinity effects which are consistent with the carefully crafted position taken by Maas. Exploitation of salt-tolerant grasses and trees to use salt-affected soils and brackish drainage waters, in Chapter 9, is a timely subject. Disposal of saline drainage waters, or more to the point, the salts they contain, is a problem common to most irrigated areas, particularly those that have no access to the ocean. The knowledge base is closely associated with the author. The tables of grasses, bushes, and trees suitable for alkaline and for saline soils will be particularly useful. The topics include site characterization, planting techniques, drainage and fertilization needs, and yield data in response to various management treatments. Use of wastewaters for irrigation, covered in Chapter 7, addresses their nutrient potential, pollution and toxic element hazards, and health hazards owing to the presence of enteric pathogens, and the impact on water quality in terms of salinity, sodicity, and specific ion hazards. Guidelines for cropping systems in relation to degree of sewage treatment are included with a special focus on sewage utilization through forestry. This chapter provides perspectives on conditions and situations in India, but does not relate them to wastewater use in other countries. The references Health Guidelines for the Use of Wastewater in Agriculture and Aquaculture published by the World Health Organization in 1989, and Guidelines for Water Reuse published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 are not cited. Five chapters deal with diagnosis and management of alkaline and saline soils, water quality, and irrigation management for salinity control. A the noteworthy characteristic of these chapters is that much of the soil chemistry, published by authors from countries other than from India, predates 1970. I will illustrate this perception with two examples. Firstly, measurements of residual sodium carbonate and pH are recommended as methods which account for the effects of calcite and magnesite precipitation on the potential sodicity hazard of a water. One of several problems with these methods is that calcium and magnesium are assumed to be equally suspectible to precipitation in the form of calcite and magnesite. However, magnesite is several orders of magnitude more soluble than calcite. A considerable body of work was published, beginning in the late 1960s and continuing through the 197Os, which resulted in nomograms and computer programs for use in water-quality assessment which better account for the effects of mineral solubilities, ionic strength, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide on calcite precipitation at the soil surface and through the rootzone. Secondly, although the threshold concepts of Quirk and Schofield (1955), in relation to the effects of salinity and sodicity on water permeability, are discussed, these chapters do not cover the publications of various authors from Australia, Israel and South Africa, or the U.S. authors who, since about 1975, have continued the development of this concept and its application.
Book review
217
In summary, the author has documented and synthesized the contributions of research scientists in India on the topics covered in the book. In my library, because of this documentation and the contents of Chapters 5 and 9, this book will be located next to FAO publications No. 29, Review 1 (Ayers and Westcot, 1986) and No. 48 (Rhoades et al., 19921, and Agricultural Salinity Assessment and Management by K.K. Tanji (1990).
Department
J.D. OSTER Professor of Soil Science University of California of Soil Science and Environmental Sciences Riverside CA 92521, USA E-mail: [email protected]
References Ayers, R.S., Westcot, D.W., 1985.Water quality for agriculture.Inigation and Drainage Paper No. 29, Review 1. FAO, Rome, Italy. Bernstein, L., Francois, L.E., Clark, R.A., 1974. Interactive effects of salinity and fertility on yield of grains and vegetables. Agronomy Journal 66, 412-421. Maas, E.V., 1990. Crop salt tolerance. In: Tanji, K.K. (Ed.), Salinity Assessment and Management. American Society of Civil Engineers Manuals and Reports on Engineering Practice No. 71. AXE, New York, pp. 262-304. Rhoades, J.D., Kanadiah, A., Mashali, A.M., 1992. The use of saline waters for crop production. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 48. Rome. Shalhevet, J., 1994. Using water of marginal quality for crop production: major issues. Agricultural Water Management 25, 233-269. Tanji, K.K. (Ed.), 1990. Agricultural Salinity Assessment and Management. AXE Manuals and Reports on Engineering Practice No. 71. ASCE. New York.