Abstract

The experiment was carried out under field conditions in order to improve exchangeable Ca:Mg ratio which depress on infiltration capacity and plant growth. The high amount of magnesium accumulation in soil exchangeable complex affects physical and chemical properties and productivity of soil. The affected land is about 1,000 ha and located in the south-west of Anatolia. The landscape units show that soils related to igneous Mg-materials. Mg bicarbonates were the dominant salts. Experiment was established using randomized block design with three replications in Acipayam Agricultural Enterprise. Treatments were prepared with 15, 30, 45 t ha^-1 gypsum and 30, 60, 90 t ha^-1 waste of sulfur, however, controls were without any chemical. To dissolve the amendments totally, 320 cm leaching water was applied for 4 years. The infiltration capacities of the soil increased in proportion to the amount of gypsum and waste of sulfur applied. Leaching of 70% of the exchangeable Mg from the soil profile required a depth of leaching water of approximately eleven or fifteen times the soil depth to be reclaimed. Relationships between theoretically calculated and required actual amendment could be described by linear equations. Waste of sulfur was more effective than gypsum for improving exchangeable Ca:Mg ratio in Acipayam Agricultural Enterprise soil.

Key words:  Magnesium to calcium ratio, exchangeable magnesium percentage, magnesium-affected soils, gypsum, sulfur factory waste, infiltration ratio.