Combined Effects of Superabsorbent Polymers, Biochar and Humic Acid on Soil Water Salt Dynamics and Melilotus...

Soil salinization is one of the most severe forms of land degradation in arid and semi-arid regions, posing substantial threats to agroecosystem stability and food security. In this study, saline-alkali soil collected from the Wuding River Basin in Yulin, Shaanxi Province was used to construct a three-factor amendment system comprising superabsorbent polymers (SAP), biochar, and humic acid. A systematic assessment was conducted to elucidate their combined effects on soil water-salt transport and crop growth. Results from one-dimensional constant-head infiltration experiments using indoor soil columns demonstrated that the application of amendments significantly increased cumulative infiltration and improved the uniformity of wetting-front advancement. Specifically, the treatments regulated the redistribution of salts within the soil profile; while surface salinity reduction varied, the leaching efficiency was significantly enhanced in the A2B2C2 treatment. Soil bulk density (BD) showed dynamic fluctuations during the growth cycle, peaking at 1.628 cm^-3 during the branching stage, while high-rate biochar (A3) reduced BD by up to 13.64% compared to the control by the initial flowering stage. Fitting results based on the Philip and Kostiakov models further indicated that the combined amendment strategy-particularly the A2B2C2 treatment (30 kg/ha SAP, 15,000 kg/ha biochar, and 600 kg/ha humic acid)-markedly enhanced both the initial infiltration rate and the steady infiltration capacity. Field experiments corroborated the indoor findings: plant height and dry biomass of Melilotus officinalis (L.)Lam. were significantly higher under amendment treatments than in the control, driven by improved water availability, mitigated salt stress, and enhanced soil structure. Single-factor and multi-factor interaction analyses revealed that SAP exerted pronounced effects during early growth stages, whereas biochar and humic acid contributed more substantially during the middle to late stages through sustained regulatory functions. Collectively, the results demonstrate that the combined application of SAP, biochar, and humic acid improves the water-salt regime of saline-alkali soils through a coupled "water-salt-structure-plant" mechanism, ultimately enhancing crop productivity. This study provides both theoretical insights and practical guidance for the amelioration of saline-alkali soils.