Jintong Liu

Spatial Variability of Soil Salinity under Subsurface Drainage

In the coastal area of eastern China with monsoon climate and high water table, soil salinity exhibits strong spatial heterogeneity at the field scale. Using basic tools of geostatistics and geographic information systems (GIS), we explored the spatial characteristics of soil salinity under rain-fed conditions and subsurface drainage. The results showed that (1) spatial variability in soil salinity could be reduced significantly by leaching with rain water and subsurface drainage (LD) during the rainy season. The variability in soil salinity after LD decreased from strong to moderate. (2) After LD, soil salinity remained at more than 0.85 g/kg irrespective of values before the rainy season. In other words, it was almost impossible to remove all the salts in the plow layer. (3) Spatial heterogeneity of soil salinity showed a homogenizing tendency based on the critical point of 7 g/kg. Soil salinity less than 7 g/kg (79% of samples) homogenized to within 1.5–2 g/kg under LD and that more than 7 g/kg decreased to 1.5–4.5 g/kg. However, at this level, most salt-tolerant crops could grow. (4) The homogeneity was also reflected in the transformation of salinity grade in different areas. Before LD, the moderately and heavily saline (2–10 g/kg) soil area accounted for 88% of the pilot field in which the heavily saline area constituted 57.45% of the total salt load within the 0- to 30-cm layer; after LD, the mildly saline (1–2 g/kg) area was dominant with more than 75% ratio, contributing 65.24% of total salt load. (5) Intensive and frequent rainfall and long-term LD may reduce the spatial variability in salinity and allow for better reclamation and utilization of saline land. These results provide a scientific basis for integrated management of water and agricultural production.

Comparative Biomass Production of Six Oat Varieties in a Saline Soil Ecology

Oat is widely used as a food source in human and animal diets. In China, supplementary cultivation of oat has recently been extended into marginal saline soils, due to its extensive use. The goal of the present study was to explore and compare the agronomic characteristics, biomass production, and distribution of oat in coastal saline soil. A single-factor randomized block design experiment with six naked and husked oat varieties [Bayou-1 (BU-1), Baiyan-2 (BY-2), Baiyan-7 (BY-7), Huawan-6 (HW-6), Huazao-2 (HZ-2), and Pin-16 (P-16)] as treatments was conducted in the Hebei Province of China. The growth period (77 to 88 days) of the six oat varieties were shorter in saline soil than their original breeding region. Moreover, the plant was shorter, with a lower grain number per plant and seed setting. Grain weight increased and no change was observed in the floret number in coastal saline soil relative to the original habitats. The BY-7 variety produced the highest biomass value of 7.0 t ha−1 compared to the other five varieties. Compared with two active growth points, most varieties in the present study showed just one growth activity point between elongation and heading. Two fast growth periods for the six oat varieties were due to the high total leaf biomass growth rate (BGR) from elongation to heading and panicle BGR from heading to maturity. The biomass growth ratio (BGO) during elongation to heading was the largest among the four growth stages of the oat varieties. The number of kernels per spike decreased at the research site, but grain weight increased. Substantial differences were observed for growth periods, biomass, BGR, BGO, and other agronomic characters in the coastal saline soil of North China, but the BY-7 variety was the most suitable variety for the study site.