Effect of nano-zinc application combined with sulfur and compost on saline-sodic soil characteristics and faba bean productivity

Salinity considers a restricting agent for plant production in arid and semiarid regions of the world. A lysimeter experiment was carried out in the 2018–2019 growing season for faba bean in saline-sodic soil, to study the effects of different levels of nano-ZnO as a foliar application under the addition of sulfur (S) alone or combined with rice straw compost (C) on the chemical properties of the saline-sodic soil and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) productivity. The results indicated that the application of S alone or combined with C significantly increased removal sodium efficiency (RSE), exchangeable Ca, availability of nutrients (NPK), organic matter (OM), and faba bean yield as compared to control. A total yield of faba bean was increased by about 39.7% in the plots treated with the nano-ZnO foliar application at 2% as compared with the control. The decrease in soil ESP and EC under the S+C with nano-ZnO at 2 g·L was 44.95% and 22.13% greater than the control treatment. The mixtures of S+C with nano-ZnO foliar application gave better results in increasing the plant height and total yield, especially the rate of 2% of nano-ZnO as compared to adding them individually. The experimental results concluded that the integration effect of nano-ZnO as a foliar application with organic fertilizer and sulfur as amendments to reclaim saline-sodic soil can be used as a promising strategy to improve its properties and increase the bean yield.