Effect of ridge planting on reclamation of coastal saline soil using drip-irrigation with saline water

- Ridge planting (RP) and flat planting (FP) were compared in reclaiming saline soil.
- RP system significantly enhanced salt leaching.
- Emergence and survival of Chinese rose were improved under RP condition.
- RP system was more effective in reclamation of coastal saline soils than FP.

The ridge planting (RP) system has been widely used in agricultural production and demonstrated as an effective agronomic practice. However, it is not known if it can be used to reclaim saline soil for landscape construction. Our objective was to analyze the soil characteristics and Chinese rose (Rosa chinensis) performance at five irrigation water salinity levels of 0.8, 3.1, 4.7, 6.3 and 7.8 dS/m under RP and flat planting (FP) systems in the process of reclamation of coastal saline soils using drip-irrigation. The experiment started in 2012 using two soils (silt and sandy loam) in the coastal saline regions, north of the Bohai Gulf, China. The RP system significantly enhanced salt leaching in total soil profiles, especially the deep soil profile, and improved emergence and survival of Chinese rose compared with FP. The RP system also improved the salt tolerance of Chinese rose to the irrigation water salinity level. Thus, the RP system (ridge height < 15 cm and ridge width < 50 cm) was effective in reclamation of coastal saline soils by planting small shrubs and herbaceous plants under drip-irrigation with saline water. In this respect, it is expected that RP will be more sustainable and effective than FP for reclamation of saline soils using saline water drip-irrigation in construction of ecological landscapes in coastal regions.