University of Tehran Press Desert 2008-0875 20 1 2015 01 01 Effects of nano iron oxide powder and urban solid waste compost coated sulfur on chemical properties of a saline-sodic soil 39 46 54081 10.22059/jdesert.2015.54081 EN Abbas Ghodsi Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran AliReza Astaraei Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran Hojat Emami Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran Journal Article 2014 06 23 The main limiting factors in saline-sodic soils are high amounts of salts, low soil organic matter (SOM) and low<br />availability of macro and micro-nutrients. The effect of different amounts of nano iron oxide powder and urban solid<br />waste compost coated sulfur (USWCS) on the chemical properties of a saline-sodic soil was investigated. The experiment<br />was conducted using a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement and three replications, in a farm<br />near Qom city. Treatments used in this study included USWCS (0 and 15 ton/ha) and nano iron oxide powder (0 and 20<br />mg/kg); treatments were applied to treated plots of 4 m2 and sunflower seeds were sown. The results show that 20 mg/kg<br />of nano-iron oxide, significantly (P<0.05) increased electrical conductivity of saturation extract (ECe), availability of<br />nutrient elements (5.26, 30, 18.18% for phosphorous (P), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu), respectively) in soil, while nitrogen<br />(N), pH and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) in soil decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Fifteen (15) tons/ha of USWCS<br />significantly increased soil ECe (6.1%), micro and macro-nutrients amounts (8.3, 21.1, 46.6, 45. 5, and 14.9% for N, P,<br />Fe, Cu, and Manganese (Mn) respectively), but significantly (P < 005) decreased the soil pH and SAR, compared to the<br />control. The combined effect of 20 mg/kg of nano iron oxide and 15 ton/ha of USWCS increased micro-nutrient<br />availability, but decreased soil pH and SAR significantly. It was concluded that the combined application of USWCS<br />and nano iron oxide increased the availability of nutrients in saline-sodic soil. https://jdesert.ut.ac.ir/article_54081_62f76987d0c38eb94bb678334b8a8d46.pdf