Physicochemical characteristic of saline agricultural soils in the Tercer Mundo Farm -Cañete

Abstract

Agricultural soils with high salinity recorded high concentrations of soluble salts, which negatively impacted crop growth by limiting nutrient absorption and decreasing microbial activity. Although some plant species showed tolerance to salinity, their development was conditioned by various soil properties, such as texture, electrical conductivity and pH. In this context, the research analyzed an agricultural soil affected by saline erosion by evaluating its physical and chemical characteristics, with the purpose of proposing a biological recovery process. The research was carried out in a soil classified as Inceptisol, where physical properties (texture, real density and humidity) and chemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, cationic exchange capacity, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, dissolved salts and organic matter) were analyzed at a depth of 0-30 cm in the Tercer Mundo farm of the National University of Cañete. To do this, 20 soil subsamples were taken for each plot of the farm, which were dried, sieved and sent to the soil laboratory of the same university for physical and chemical analysis. The results showed a high sodium content (46.27 mEq/L), a pH of 7.74, an electrical conductivity of 15.76 dS/m and an exchangeable sodium of 11.49, which allowed the soil to be classified as sodium saline. Likewise, high PH and C.E. values. Limited availability of certain micronutrients was recorded, which made their absorption by crops difficult.These physicochemical characteristics indicated that the soil had low fertility and a limited capacity for plant growth and development.