Management techniques evaluation for sodic soils reclamation in the Valle Calido del Alto Magadalena

An experiment was carried out at La Palmita farm, located within the irrigation district USOCOELLO, in El Espinal, Tolima, Vereda Guasimal-Pasoancho, on a soil classified as Typical Ustropept in advanced state of sodification, in order to reestablish its sustainable productive potential. Three techniques were evaluated as follows: drains spacing (50 and 100 meters), type of drains (pipes and gravel) and chemical correctives (sulfur and gypsum) plus a characteristic management in each stage of the reclamation process. After two semesters and by using rice as crop, the exchangeable sodium decreased in about 40% in the first layer, which brought the soil from a sodica condition to normal. Statistical differences were found between drains spacing and chemical correctives with best results or a spacing of 100 m and when sulfur was used as corrective. The process will continue until the hydrodynamic characteristics from 20 to 30 cm deep are reestablished as well as the nutritional balance throughout the soil profile