Changes of soil microbial characteristics in saline-sodic soils under drip irrigation

A field experiment was carried out to study the changes of soil bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in saline-sodic soils for different numbers of cultivated years under drip irrigation. The drip irrigation had substantial effects on levels of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes. With increased number of cultivated years under drip irrigation, the soil biological properties were greatly improved. After three years of cultivation, the respective increases in the levels of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes were 103.7, 72.7 and 58.2 times those of uncultivated land. In the vertical direction, the colony forming units of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes all decreased with increased soil depth. We forecast that the soil microbial characteristics in drip-irrigated saline-sodic soils should match those of natural Leymus chinensis grassland after 6–7 years of cultivation.