Study on the response of soil chemical properties and corn (Zea mays L.) to the land application with sugar beet rinse water

A controlled study was conducted to test the effect of land application with oxidation pond treatment sugar beet rinse water (SBRW) on soil chemical properties and on corn (Zea mays L.) growth and yield. Samples were collected from each plot: pre-irrigation (provided reference “background” values), well water (WW) irrigation (served as the control) site and SBRW irrigation site. Soil chemical properties at different soil depths were measured. Compared with WW irrigation and pre-irrigation, the pH decreased at SBRW irrigation site and it resulted in an improvement of the contents of available nutrients in the soil layer (0–20 cm) due to SBRW with lower pH and a great quantity of nutrients. SBRW, characterized by high salinity, had little effect on soil salinity and sodicity. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to evaluate the impact of SBRW irrigation on chemical properties of the whole soil profile and the results showed that exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) changed not more obviously than available nutrients and cation exchange capacity (CEC). SBRW irrigation would make positive effect on corn growth and it could significantly improve corn's yield and dry matter. As silty clay's low potential for leaching and hydraulic conductivity, leachates did not cause any pollution in terms of nutrient and salinity release to groundwater. These results confirmed that besides its role as irrigant, SBRW might also serve as a “liquid fertilizer” for soil and corn.

► Sugar beet rinse water irrigation improves soil available NPK contents.
► Sugar beet rinse water irrigation has little effect on soil salinity and sodicity.
► Sugar beet rinse water has positive effect on corn growth as a liquid fertilizer.
► Leachates could not cause pollution in terms of nutrient release to groundwater.