Bio-reclamation of saline-sodic soil by Amshot grass in Northern Egypt

The effect of Amshot grass ( Echinochloa stagninum) compared to ponding and gypsum on reducing the alkalinity and salinity of highly saline sodic soil in Northern Egypt, near Manzala lake, was investigated for 2 years. In a field experiment over an area of 273 m 2, 12 plots were prepared for three treatments. Each treatment had four replicates. The treatments were ponding (5–10 cm water depth), gypsum (10 tons per feddan, where 1 feddan = 4200 m 2) and Amshot cultivation. Amshot reduced the exchangeable sodium percent (ESP) of the surface layer more than ponding or gypsum treatments in both years. The reduction was significant, especially after the second year. The relative ESP was 79.3, 73.3 and 67.3% of its initial value at the surface layer for ponding, gypsum and Amshot, respectively, for the first year. The corresponding values for the second year were 55.0, 47.0 and 33.6%. The reduction in exchangeable sodium was accompanied by a decrease in the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) at the upper 45 cm layers. The relative SAR for this upper zone after 1 year compared to its initial value was in the range of 78–90 for ponding, 60–82 for gypsum and 65–78 for Amshot. The reduction was even greater for the second year and reached its maximum with Amshot (42–45%). Amshot significantly reduced the salinity of the soil compared to either ponding or gypsum, and produced higher fresh yield than clover cultivated in such soils. Therefore, Amshot could benefit both the soil and the livestock fodder in this area of Egypt.