Trace Elements Status in the Saline Soils Leaced by Using Low Quality Water

This study was carried out on saline soils of Sahl El-Houssinia, El-Sharkia Governorate to evaluate three different water sources as a leaching and irrigation water in these soils and their use effect on some trace elements accumulation in the different soil layers. The using water sources were Bahr El-Bakar drain, Bahr Hadoos drain and El-Salam canal. These sources were used in the leaching three different locations of saline soils under fish-pond farms (contentious leaching) for 0, 3, 5 years followed by cultivation of rice and wheat. The used water sources were analyzed for total soil salts, soluble ions, pH and the content of some macronutrients (N, P and K) and trace elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, B and Pb) and evaluated as a source of irrigation water according to the international system of water quality classification which appeared the suitable use of these sources in leaching and irrigation the saline soils especially in the short-time. Soil samples at the depth of 0 30, 30 60 and 60 90 cm were taken from each studied area before leaching, after leaching for 3 and 5 years and after of rice or wheat plants harvesting. The soil samples were prepared for determination their content of available trace elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, B and Pb). The soil content of the determined trace elements was increased with leaching period increase, where it’s decreased with the increase of soil depth. These results were found with all used water sources. The relative increase of trace elements concentration was clear related with water source, initial concentrations of trace elements in water and soil, the type of trace element, leaching period, soil depth and cultivated plant.