The publication of this Handbook was supported by the Russian Federation

Solving  problems  of   the  amelioration  of   salt-affected  lands  (by  the 
example  of   experimental  research  in  Kelechek,  Panfilovsky  District, 
Kyrgyzstan)
Experimental research aimed at improving the ameliorative condition of  lands includes the 
following tasks:
•  Identification of  salt accumulation processes in soils;

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Soil salinity manаgement manual | Part II.Tutorial examples, guidelines and exercises 
•  Mapping soils according to the degrees and types of  their salinity;
•  Collecting data on the humus content within the plough layer of  soil;
•  Investigations of  spatial distribution of  alkalinity within the plough layer;
•  Collecting data on available nutrient concentrations within the plough layer;
•  Establishment of  best practice for horizontal drainage maintenance.
The data obtained serve as the basis for making recommendations for the prevention of  soil 
salinization, alkalinization and waterlogging and for improving the soil fertility of  the experimental 
research site of  Kelechek. Such recommendations include the following:
i.  Depending on the degree of  soil salinization, leaching to remove salts requires irrigation 
rates between 100 and 4000 m
3
/ha. The best time for undertaking soil leaching treatments 
is autumn-winter, when they can be combined with soil moistening treatments. If  irrigation 
rates of  800-3000 m
3
/ha are prescribed for soil moistening, then they should be adjusted to 
coincide with rates recommended for leaching;
ii.  Desalinization treatment of  alkaline and saline-sodic soils with the content of  CO
3
 
2-
+HCO
3
-
=1meq/100 g of  soil and Na=1meg/100 g of  soil should involve gypsum application at the 
rate of  800 kg/ha. Soils with lower salinity and alkalinity levels should receive agrotechnical 
treatments: application of  organic and physiologically acidic mineral fertilizers and cultivation 
of  perennial herbs (e.g., alfalfa and sweet clover). The best time for applying ameliorators is 
when the soil is ploughed after crop harvesting;
iii. Plants should be supplied with balanced nutrition, with fertilizers applied at rates corresponding 
to plant requirements. Excessive fertilization of  soils results in the pollution of  water and the 
environment, especially within agricultural areas;
iv.  Soil drainage and desalinization treatments should be performed in compliance with the 
rules of  drainage system exploitation: (i) timely cleaning of  drains; (ii) removal of  silt and 
other blockages from drains, especially, from outlets of  drainage systems to ensure free water 
flow, prevention of  water losses from closed drains, (iv) regular control of  drainage system 
efficiency, etc.
v.  Soil testing on farms should be obligatory, with the following aims: (i) determination of  soil 
fertility level, (ii) prescription of  doses of  fertilizers and ameliorators (gypsum, glauconite, 
etc.) and (iii) recommendation of  type and rate of  irrigation that will prevent losses of  soil 
and water from fields.