Using caree-free water conditioner system for treating saline water and its effect on soil chemical properties and Alfalfa growth properties

Abstract

A Field experiment was conducted in silty clay soil classified as Fine Loamy active calcareous hyperthermic Typic Torrifluvents . The soil was planted with Alfalfa crop variety ( Medicago sativa ) during the season of 2008 – 2009 . Two irrigation water types were used , namely ; treated water by Care-free water conditioners system and untreated water ( Shutt-Alarab river water ) its EC was 7.94 dsm – 1 . Care-free system was conducted in the irrigation pass line of the Shutt-Alarab river water ; the diameter of system was 1.5 inch ( 3.81 cm ) . The soil properties changed due to using Care-free system was studied after one , two and three months . The studied soil chemical properties were EC , ESP and pH of soil at depths ( 0 – 25 ) , ( 25 – 50 ) and ( 50 – 75 ) cm . The Alfalfa crop properties measured were plant height , branches number , stem diameter , length and width of leaflet , green weight and total crop production . The results showed that the treated water significantly reduced EC , ESP and pH values by 24.55 , 18.86 and 0.77 % respectively as compared with untreated water . The EC and ESP values were higher in soil depth of ( 0 – 25 ) cm as compared with depths ( 25 – 50 ) and ( 50 – 75 ) cm . EC value also increased by 29.61 % after the third crop harvesting while the highest value of ESP was 12.35 and it was recorded after the second crop harvesting . The treated water increased the total production of the crop , green weight , plant length , branches numbers , stem diameter and leaflet length and width by 37.08 , 75.06 , 17.90 , 39.34 , 36.60 19.87 and 37.83 % respectively as compared with untreated water . Some crop parameters total crop production , green weight , plant height , length and width of leaflet were decreased after the third crop harvesting by 22.37 , 21.26 , 22.84 , 24.96 and 56.82 % respectively as compared with first harvest . The second harvest gave the biggest stem diameter , but the number harvesting was not effected significantly in the number of plant shoots .