Gypsum and Tillage Practices for Combating Soil Salinity and Enhancing Crop Productivity

Soil salinity is a major global challenge, reducing fertility and crop productivity. This study evaluated the effects of various soil management practices on the physical, chemical, and microbial properties of saline soils. Six treatments, combining loosening, ploughing, disking, and gypsum amendment, were applied to solonetzic meadow soil with high sodium levels. Soil penetration resistance was measured using a Penetronik penetrometer, while chemical analyses included pH, total salt content, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), humus, and exchangeable cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+). Microbial composition was determined through DNA extraction and nanopore sequencing. The results showed that level A had the lowest penetration resistance (333 ± 200 N/m2), indicating better conditions for plant growth. Gypsum and loosening treatment significantly improved penetration resistance (141 N/m2, p < 0.001), while gypsum amendment enhanced chemical properties (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, and p < 0.001). Gypsum application balanced soil parameters and influenced microbial communities. Reduced tillage favored functionally important microbial genera but did not support fungal diversity (p > 0.05). These findings highlight the effectiveness of gypsum amendment and tillage practices, like loosening and disking, in mitigating salinity stress and fostering beneficial microbial communities. Combining gypsum with these tillage methods proved most effective in enhancing soil health, offering insights for sustainable soil management in saline environments.