The publication of this Handbook was supported by the Russian Federation

S.V. Saakyan (Armenia)
Electromelioration is an effective method for the chemical amelioration of  saline and alkaline soils 
that allows for the reclamation of  Solonetz without the need for transporting large amounts of  
ameliorators [1, 2, 14]. However, this method has not been widely adopted in practice due to some 
methodological problems. Research on this matter has concluded that the main disadvantages of  
this method include the long distances between the electrodes and the need for high-voltage direct 
current and freshwater for soil leaching.
The long distance between the electrodes is dictated by the necessity to spread the electric field 
over a large area; otherwise there would be a need for a far larger quantity of  electrodes. At the 
same time, wide positioning of  electrodes implies a need for high voltage direct current to produce 
the electrolysis effect. This results in the use of  large amounts of  electric power and is, hence, an 
energy inefficient method. The use of  freshwater for leaching contributes to a decrease in the 
strength of  electric current, which causes further inefficiency due to a reduction in desalinization 
rate and an increase in the duration of  soil amelioration.
An analysis of  experimental studies has shown that the best method of  amelioration of  alkaline 
soils is a proximal technique of  electromelioration, in which soil is treated not directly, but indirectly 
- through electrically treated irrigation water with additions of  salts. For this purpose, there is a 
need for a specialized device for the treatment of  salt-containing water. Such device has already 
been developed and applied in practice after a series of  laboratory experiments, which established 
optimal parameters of  saline water treatment [9-10].
The experiments were conducted at a 0.1 ha site, where soils were affected by secondary salinity 
and alkalinity.
All shrubs at the site were uprooted and the soil was levelled. Between the remaining rows of  trees, 
1.5-m-wide strips of  soil were ploughed to a depth of  25-30 cm and experimental plots 1.5x1.5 m2 
with earth ridges 20-25 cm high along their boundaries were set up. The soils of  experimental plots 
were acidified using a device for saline water treatment and then washed with freshwater. Those 
soils were characterized by the soda-sulphate-chloride type of  salinity. They had a total alkalinity 
of  0.17-7.37 mmol(eq.)/100 g and the exchangeable sodium and potassium concentrations of  5.4-
12.7 mmol(eq.)/100g. The pH of  soil solution was from 8.3 to 9.8. The content of  soluble salts 
within a soil layer of  0-50 cm varied from 0.4 to 2.0%.

---

54
Soil salinity manаgement manual | Part I.Soil salinity management in the Eurasian Region 
The experiment was carried out in three replications with three different treatments:
•  Soil leaching without chemical ameliorators (control).
•  Chemical amelioration of  soil by sulphuric acid solution with subsequent leaching of  soil by 
freshwater.
•  Chemical amelioration of  soil by acidified (using a specialized device) saline groundwater 
with subsequent leaching of  soil by freshwater.
The calculated rates of  sulphuric acid application to achieve soil desalinization were 100 t/ ha on 
average and 43.6 kg/2.25 m
2
 for an experimental plot. The ameliorator with an acid concentration 
of  50 mmol(eq.)/l was applied in a quantity of  436 m
3
. Soil acidification and leaching treatments 
within experimental plots were followed by tree planting.
The experimental results yielded the following conclusions:
•  The leaching of  Soda Solonetz-Solonchak without the use of  chemical ameliorators decreased 
the content of  soluble salts by 16.1% and that of  exchangeable sodium by 6.5%, but the soil 
remained saline, alkaline and generally unsuitable for the growth of  agricultural crops.
•  The HCl treatment of  Soda-Solonetz-Solonchak caused desalinization and dealkalinization 
of  soil, which resulted in leaching of  soluble salts and toxic ions from the 0-1 m layer of  soil 
so that their remaining concentrations reached desirable levels.
•  The use of  electrically treated acidic water produced the same result as the HCl treatment, 
i.e., an improvement of  soil quality.
•  The local soil amelioration technique reduced the rates of  chemical ameliorator and water 
use by 10-15 times as compared to traditional methods, which creates good prospects for the 
practical application of  this new method on farms.
5.2. Innovative technologies for the amelioration and use of salt-
affected soils in Kazakhstan