Effect of zeolite and saline water application on saturated hydraulic conductivity and infiltration in different soil textures

The effects of zeolite application (0, 4, 8 and16gkg(-1)) and saline water (0.5, 1.5, 3.0 and 5.0dSm(-1)) on saturated hydraulic conductivity (K-s) and sorptivity (S) in different soils were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Results showed that K-s was increased at salinity levels of 0.5-1.5dSm(-1) in clay loam and loam with 8 and 4 g zeolitekg(-1) soil, respectively, and at salinity levels of 3.0-5.0dSm(-1) with 16 g zeolitekg(-1) soil. K-s was decreased by using low and high salinity levels in sandy loam with application of 8 and 16 g zeolitekg(-1), respectively. In clay loam, salinity levels of 0.5-3.0dSm(-1) with application of 16 gkg(-1) zeolite and 5.0dSm(-1) with application of 8 g zeolitekg(-1) soil resulted in the lowest values of S. In loam, all salinity levels with application of 16 g zeolitekg(-1) soil increased S compared with other zeolite application rates. In sandy loam, only a salinity level of 0.5dSm(-1) with application of 4 g zeolitekg(-1) soil increased S. Other zeolite applications decreased S, whereas increasing the zeolite application to 16gkg(-1) soil resulted in the lowest value of S.