Use of limestone quarry waste to facilitate the growth and establishment of Salvadora oleoides Decne., on a salt affected soil

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1 BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN) 2013, 59 (1), PK ISSN Use of limestone quarry waste to facilitate the growth and establishment of Salvadora oleoides Decne., on a salt affected soil *WARDAH YOUSAF & FAIZA SHARIF Sustainable Development Study Center, GC University, Lahore ABSTRACT Huge amounts of limestone waste is being produced during quarrying site that pose threat to water resources, fauna and flora of surrounding community. This waste is rich in calcium, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus therefore it can be used for amelioration and reclamation of salt affected soils. Present study was focused on checking the potential of limestone quarry waste for supporting growth and establishment of S. oleoides Decne. on a saline-sodic soil. Two salt affected blocks of 30 m 50 m were selected for this purpose and saplings of S. oleoides were transferred to them under three treatments; T1 (Non-saline soil (NSS) + Limestone waste (LW)), T2 (NSS + Farmyard manure (FYM) + Gypsum) and T3 (NSS + FYM + LW). Analysis of variance and independent sample t-test were carried out to determine the effect of soil salinity and different treatments on the growth and establishment of S. oleoides. Combination of LW with FYM gave a significant increase (p < 0.05) in height (cm), number of branches and relative amount of chlorophyll in S.oleoides than other two treatments. Percentage survival was also high in plants treated with LW + FYM, than other treatments but that difference was statistically non-significant (p > 0.05). Results revealed that use of limestone waste for amelioration of saline-sodic soils can not only improve soil conditions but also can significantly reduce pollution and issues related to its disposal. Key words: Limestone quarry waste, saline-sodic soil, Salvadora oeloides. INTRODUCTION Salinity is a global issue and it has drastic impacts on arid and semi-arid areas. Salinity is blight for forestry, agriculture and pasture development (Ramoliya, et al. 2004) and its impact is increasing gradually globally including Pakistan. According to an estimate, globally about 7% of the total land area is affected by salinity (Szabolcs, 1994) and in Pakistan 6.3 M ha area is affected with salinity (Qureshi & Barrett-Lennard, 1998). The high amount of salts has negative impacts on plant growth (Mer, et al. 2000). High salinity decreases the osmotic potential of soil solution which is detrimental to seed germination (Ramoliya & Pandey, 2002; Ramoliya, et al. 2006; Patel, et al. 2010). Chemical treatments are being given for the improvement of soil from a long time (Qadir, et al. 2001). Gypsum is normally used as the chemical treatment for improving soil condition by exchanging Na + to Ca 2+. Limestone waste (LW) can also be used as the chemical amendment for the amelioration of saline-sodic soil because it provides Ca 2+ in a large amount which is good for the growth of native plant species. *Corresponding author: warda.yousaf4@gmail.com

2 158 W. YOUSAF & F. SHARIF BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN) The species selected in this study was Salvadora oleoides Decne. that is a climax member of native thorn forest community that has been declared endangered (Wikramanayake, et al. 2001). S. oleoides is a salt tolerant tree (Ramoliya & Pandey, 2002; Sharif & Khan, 2009 and Hardikar, et al. 2011) with low economic value but it has applications in multiple fields i.e., provides sweet and edible fruits, fodder, fuel, timber and has pharmaceutical value. S.oleoides improves the soil quality, stabilizes the fragile arid area, and provides shelter to livestock and wildlife (Khan, 1955; Khan, 1994; 1996). Limestone quarrying results in environmental issues like disposal issues of wastes, soil erosion and impact on water resources. Other than environmental issues limestone quarrying also has impacts on flora, fauna and socio-economic sector of local area. LW was collected from the ICI Tobar, located near salt range of Khewra. Annual production of waste is approximately 91,250 tons and waste heap covers an area of 130m 2 (Hayyat, 2005). The objectives of this study were: 1. To check the potential of limestone quarrying waste to facilitate the growth and establishment of S. oleoides on a saline-sodic soil. 2. To compare limestone quarry waste with gypsum in providing support to S. oleoides on saline-sodic soil. MATERIALS AND METHODS Site selection and soil analyses Two blocks of 30 m 50 m were selected from 36 acres of salt affected land at Harappa archeological site. These two blocks were 300 m apart from each other. To check the soil s physical and chemical characteristics, soil sampling and analyses were carried out in September 2010 prior to plantation at the selected sites. Soil samples were randomly collected from the two selected blocks. Three samples were collected from block A and three from block B at two different depths, for top soil (0-15 cm) and sub soil (45-60 cm) and this made a total of 12 samples. Soil texture, EC (1:1), ph, CO 2-3, HCO - 3, Ca 2+, Mg 2+, SO 4 2-, Cl -, Na +, K +, N, available P, organic matter, SAR and ECP were determined as described by Ryan, et al. (2001). Experimental design Following three experimental treatments were provided using Non-saline soil (NSS), Limestone waste (LW) and Farmyard Manure (FM) to S. oleoides plants in each block. T1: NSS + LW, T2: NSS + FYM + Gypsum and T3: NSS + FYM + LW. Soil preparation and Plantation Ditches were made at the distance of 5 m in both blocks. The ditches were 45 cm in width and 60 cm deep. NSS was added in all the ditches. About 2 kg Gypsum and LW and 5 kg FYM was added in the respective treatments as mentioned above. Saplings of S. oleoides (8-9 months old) that were grown in GCU Botanic garden were translocated to the study site and planted in the ditches in rows at a distance of 5m 5m in both blocks. There were 15 saplings

3 VOL. 59 (1) USE OF LIMESTONE QUARRY WASTE 159 each under T1, T2 and T3 in both blocks. So, a total of 90 saplings were planted under the three treatments in block A and B, on 5 th November Protection and Monitoring A fence made up of Saccharum leaves was built around the saplings to guard the plants from herbivores. Thorny bushes were placed at the top of saplings to protect them from Porcupine attack. Measurements regarding the height (cm) of the plants were taken at the time of plantation and at the interval of 2 months for 1 year. Number of branches and relative amount of Chlorophyll were taken at the end of the study period on 25 th September Three plants from each treatment were selected randomly from each block for determining relative amount of Chlorophyll by using chlorophyll meter (Spad-502 Konica Minolta) to give a total of 18 plants. Statistical Analyses Recorded data from different parameters were statistically analyzed by using SPSS version 17. Descriptive analysis was carried out to find the mean values and standard error of means. Significant difference of chemical properties of top and sub soil of each block and between the two blocks was determined by Independent sample t-test. One-way ANOVA was used to observe the effect of different treatments on growth and survival percentage of S. oleoides planted in both blocks, while multiple comparisons was done by using Tukey HSD. RESULTS Soil Analyses The top soil of block A was silty clay loam, while the sub soil of both blocks and top soil of block B was silty loam in texture. In block A ph of the sub and top soil was 8.09, 8.23, EC (1:1) 12.11, 31.1 ms/cm and SAR 38, 96 respectively, showing that soil is highly saline-sodic in nature. Concentration of N, Organic matter and P were 0.03, 0.28%, 0.02, 0.16% and 20, 44 ppm in sub and top soils, respectively. In B block values of ph, SAR and EC (1:1) of sub and top soil were 8.17 and 8.35, 68 and 130, and and ms/cm respectively, showing that soil was highly saline-sodic in nature. Concentration of organic matter, N and P was 0.02 and 0.07%, 0.04 and 0.24% and 22 and 40 ppm in sub and top soils respectively. Percentage of N and organic matter was low, while P was adequate in soil in both layers of block A and block B (Ryan, et al. 2001). All the above parameters were decreasing from top to sub soil, while the concentration of salts was high on the surface. There was non-significant difference (p > 0.05) in decrease in ph of both blocks. All other parameters EC (1:1), SAR and N decreased significantly with depth (p < 0.05) in both blocks (Fig.1 & 2). t-test was applied for checking the significance difference among top soil of both blocks and results show that SAR and OM are significant (p < 0.001), while ph, EC (1:1), P and N are non-significant (p > 0.001) (Table. 1).

4 160 W. YOUSAF & F. SHARIF BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN) Table 1: t-test for Equality of Mean Values of Top Soils of Both Blocks Parameter Block Mean ± S.E. T df Significance A 8.18±0.03 ph B 8.28±0.03 A ±2.62 EC (1:1) (ms/cm) B 32.63±2.22 A 91.67±2.33 SAR B ±3.67 A 40±2.08 P (ppm) B 38.67±0.88 A 0.22±0.03 N (%) B 0.23±0.01 A 0.15±0.01 OM (%) B 0.05±0.01 Fig., 1: Comparison of mean values of N%, OM%, ph, EC and SAR of top and subsoil of block A *Significant difference at p<0.05 according to independent sample t-test.

5 VOL. 59 (1) USE OF LIMESTONE QUARRY WASTE 161 Fig., 2: Comparison of mean values of N%, OM%, ph, EC and SAR of top and subsoil of block B *Significant difference at p<0.05 according to independent sample t-test. Fig., 3: Comparison of mean values of height (cm), chlorophyll content, and number of branches of S. oleoides transplatned at block A (A) and block B (B) under three treatments. Means in a cluster followed by similar treatment are not statistically significant at (p>0.05). Tukey s (HSD)

6 162 W. YOUSAF & F. SHARIF BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN) Effect of different treatments on growth and survival of S. oleoides Effect of different treatments on height (cm), number of branches and relative amount of chlorophyll was significant (p < 0.05), while percentage survival was non-significant (p > 0.05) in both blocks. Plants amended with both FYM + LW showed higher survival (93.75% and 78.57%) than other two treatments in block A and block B respectively. Similar trend was followed by all growth parameters i.e., height, number of branches and relative amount of chlorophyll in both blocks (Fig., 3. A & B). DISCUSSION The results of current study showed that selected blocks were highly saline-sodic. Three different treatments were provided to the plants to minimize the negative impacts on growth and establishment on saline-sodic soil. S. oleoides plants amended with combination of LW and FYM showed higher survival and growth rate is than those of other treatments. S. oleoides plants under T3 (NSS + FYM + LW) gained 41% and 35% more height than T1 (NSS + LW) and T2 (NSS + FYM + Gypsum) in both blocks, respectively. The trend was same for number of branches and relative amount of chlorophyll, T3 had 1.2 times more amount of chlorophyll than T1 and T2 in both blocks and this indicates better growth and salt tolerance in plants amended with T3. Hardikar (2011) had reported similar results that photosynthesis rate and leaf area were affected by high salinity which indirectly causes reduction in yield and crop growth. Gypsum provides essential macronutrient Ca to soil which plays a diverse messenger and structural role in plant growth (Marschner, 1995) and it precipitates with carbonates, bicarbonates and sulfates replacing sodium ions and thus decreases the level of sodicity in soil (Sadiq, et al. 2007). FYM provides nutrients and increases the absorption rate of nutrients (Dutta, et al. 2003). LW is non-toxic and it contains high amount of Ca, along with N, P, Mg and K. So, it provides sufficient nutrients for plant growth. LW along with FYM collectively acted as a fertilizer and provided an additional amount of essential nutrients which were helpful in establishment and growth of S. oleoides on saline-sodic soil. Results of current study are in agreement with the results of Sharif & Khan (2009) who found that salt tolerance limit of S.oleoides was increased when additional fertilizer was provided. Although there was a significant difference in soil salinity of both blocks but during one year study period, non-significant difference was observed in the survival and growth of S. oleoides at two blocks. The effect of soil salinity is expected to be more pronounced in future when the roots will penetrate in the non-amended original soil.

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