Response of a salt-sensitive plant to processes of soil reclamation in two saline–sodic, coastal soils using drip irrigation with saline water

• The very heavy coastal saline soils were reclaimed by soil treatments and drip-irrigation.
• The impact of soil types on coastal saline soil reclamation was evaluated.
• Response of plant growth to the reclamation processes in two soils was determined.
• Enough nutrient supply and soil moisture should be maintained in sandy loam soil.
• Suitable soil root-zone environments should be rapidly established in silty soil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of soil types and properties on coastal saline soil reclamation and the response of plant growth to the reclamation processes in two soils. Two very heavy coastal saline soils were reclaimed in a three-year trial using drip irrigation with saline water. Chinese roses (Rosa chinensis) were planted, and soil indexes, growth characters, ion absorption and dry matter production were determined. Our results showed that significant salt leaching occurred in both soils, and the effect during the early period of reclamation was better in sandy loam than silt soil. There were higher emergence and survival rates of plants in sandy loam soil due to the rapid reclamation process, while plant growth and dry mass were greater in silt soil due to good fertilizer and water conservation. Most roots were present in the 0–20-cm profile in both soils, but the fine root length value in silt soil was relatively high. These results indicate that water and nutrient management differed in the two soils. During soil reclamation, more attention should be paid to nutrient supply and maintaining soil moisture in sandy loam and to rapidly establishing suitable soil root-zone environments for plant emergence in silt soil.