The results showed significant effects of using CaCO3 in desalination in saline soil.
There was a significant reduction in electrical conductivity in the saturated soil paste extract
(ECe) from 20.00 to 11.47 dS/m. CaCO3 also helped to reduce exchangeable Naex, percentage
exchange sodium (ESP), sodium adsorption rate (SAR) and increased exchangeable cations
Kex, Caex and Mgex. The saline soil after desalination was used to grow sedge plants, cattail
(Typha orientalis), grey sedge (Lepironia articulata) and bulrush (Scirpus littoralis), for the 2nd
experiment. The results indicated that the sedge plants also contributed to salinity reduction,
particular ECe=8.71-11.29 dS/m, Naex=3.50-3.90 g/kg and ESP=17.02-22.69% in soil soaking
with CaCO3 were lower than that in the soil without CaCO3 application (ECe=10.67-13.13
dS/m; Naex=3.99-4.48 g/kg and ESP=17.68-23.91%). The results suggested that the combined
use sedge plants and lime was effectively reduced soil salinity and improved soil chemical
properties than using lime alone