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Q: Alkaline soils are best reclaimed by :
  • A. providing good drainage
  • B. leaching
  • C. addition of gypsum to soil and leaching
  • D. addition of gypsum to soil
Correct Answer: Option C - Alkaline soil– For alkaline soil reclamation, addition of gypsum to soil and leaching both the process are adopted. In leaching land is flooded with adequate depth of water. The alkaline salt present in the soil get dissolved in the water, which percolate down to join the water table. The process is repeated till the salts in the top layer of land are reduced to such an extent that some salt resistant crop can be grown. • When sodium carbonate Na2CO₃ is present in the saline soil, gypsum (CaSO₄) is generally added to the soil before leaching and thoroughly mixed with water. • Na₂CO₃ reacts with CaSO₄ forming Na₂SO₄ , which can be leached out as explained earlier.
C. Alkaline soil– For alkaline soil reclamation, addition of gypsum to soil and leaching both the process are adopted. In leaching land is flooded with adequate depth of water. The alkaline salt present in the soil get dissolved in the water, which percolate down to join the water table. The process is repeated till the salts in the top layer of land are reduced to such an extent that some salt resistant crop can be grown. • When sodium carbonate Na2CO₃ is present in the saline soil, gypsum (CaSO₄) is generally added to the soil before leaching and thoroughly mixed with water. • Na₂CO₃ reacts with CaSO₄ forming Na₂SO₄ , which can be leached out as explained earlier.

Explanations:

Alkaline soil– For alkaline soil reclamation, addition of gypsum to soil and leaching both the process are adopted. In leaching land is flooded with adequate depth of water. The alkaline salt present in the soil get dissolved in the water, which percolate down to join the water table. The process is repeated till the salts in the top layer of land are reduced to such an extent that some salt resistant crop can be grown. • When sodium carbonate Na2CO₃ is present in the saline soil, gypsum (CaSO₄) is generally added to the soil before leaching and thoroughly mixed with water. • Na₂CO₃ reacts with CaSO₄ forming Na₂SO₄ , which can be leached out as explained earlier.