Investigation on using magnetic water technology for leaching high saline-sodic soils

One of the most important factors considered in leaching salt-affected soils is reducing the amount of water and leaching time particularly when magnetizing water is used. In this study, soil column experiments were conducted to assess the rate of salt removal and estimate the amount of water required for leaching in order to reduce salinity (EC) to ≤ 4 dS m^-1 and sodicity (ESP) to < 10. Soil samples with EC = 216 dS m^-1 and ESP = 82 were taken from Basrah City, Iraq, for the conduction of laboratory experiments, and these samples were subjected to magnetized water (MW) with magnetic fields of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9; different exposure time; and constant flow velocity. Experimental results were compared with the results of control soil columns leached with non-magnetized water (NMW), and the comparison shows that the leaching times for MW with magnetic fields of 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1 were less by 17.3%, 10.8%, 8.9%, 7.6%, and 3.9%, respectively. Also, less amount of MW was required for leaching, but when field magnetic was 9, the amount was increased by 20%. Predicted values of EC and ESP obtained from the proposed equations were found in agreement with experimental results.