Study of Phosphogypsum Amendment in Arid Zone Soil El Fja Region (Mednine, Tunisia)

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Volume spécial - CSIEA2017, Article26	[Volume spécial - CSIEA2017, Article26]	1158 kB

K. ARDHAOUI^1,2, N. KARBOUT¹, S. THABTI¹, M. MOUSSA¹

¹ Institute of Arid Regions Medenine, Tunisia (IRA)

²Higher Institute of Applied Biology of Medenine (ISBAM), Route El-Jorf, Medenine, Tunisia

Abstract – An arid zone is characterized as an area of low precipitation, high temperature, and high rate of evaporation. The soil in this zone is characterized by neutral, high salt content, and low organic matter. Therefore its agronomic potential can be easily deteriorated by erosion or over cultivation and consequently amendments are added to enhance physic-chemical properties of soil. This work is a trial to recover soil in El Fja region (Mednine, Tunisia) by adding various amounts of phosphogypsum (PG) a byproduct issued by fertilizers industry. Phosphogypsum-soil mixtures were prepared in pots, with different percentages: 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and tested under broad bean cultivation (Vicia faba L). Physical and chemical properties of these mixtures were investigated. Water reserve and water retention capacity increased, which led to an augmentation in agricultural yields, its maximum was reached at a percentage of 10% of PG amended.

Keywords : Amendement, arid zone, phosphogypsum (PG), soil.