Effect of soft rock amendment on soil hydraulic parameters and crop performance in Mu Us Sandy Land, China

Effect of soft rock as soil amendment on soil moisture, water storage, saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil cone penetration resistance, bulk density, water use efficiency and yield of corn (Zeamays L.) was investigated in a field experiment in a sandy soil in Mu Us Sandy Land of China in 2012-2014. Treatments includes four rates of soft rock to sandy soil in volume (0:1, 1:1, 1:2 and 1:5) were applied only in the first year. Adding soft rock amendments increased soil moisture, soil water storage and water hold water holding capacity; decreased soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil cone penetration resistance and bulk density. All soft rock amendments significantly (P < 0.05) increased grain yield and above-ground biomass, and improved water use efficiency in all three years. Grain yield increases ranged from 67.8% to 160.1%, above-ground biomass increases ranged from 54.0% to 143.3%, and water use efficiency increases ranged from 11.3% to 46.6%. The treatment with rate of 1:1 (soft rock to sandy soil in volume) had the greatest effect on soil physical properties averaged over the three years. The treatment with rate of 1:2 had the greatest effect on crop performance averaged over the three years. Soft rock amendments showed promise for improving soil hydraulic parameters and crop yield in Mu Us Sandy Land, and deserve further research.