TITLE:
Mitigating a Sodium Bicarbonate Water Source with Calcium and Magnesium to Produce Container-Grown Live Oak Trees
AUTHORS:
Zachary Davis, Edward Bush
KEYWORDS:
Water Quality, Salinity, Sodic Soils, Amelioration
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.16 No.3,
March
12,
2025
ABSTRACT: The effect of alkaline water quality on live oak tree production was initiated at a nursery in Point Coupee Parish, Louisiana. Ca and Mg sources were used to study the impact of water quality on live oak tree container-growth and study the benefits of using different rates of lime and gypsum [0% dolomitic lime (Ca, Mg), 100% gypsum (Ca) + Epsom salt (Mg), 25% dolomitic lime (Ca, Mg), 75% gypsum (Ca) + Epsom salt (Mg), 50% dolomitic lime (Ca, Mg), 50% gypsum (Ca) + Epsom salt (Mg), 75% dolomitic lime (Ca, Mg), 25% gypsum (Ca) + Epsom salt (Mg), 100% dolomitic lime (Ca, Mg) + 0% dolomitic lime]. Live oak tree growth measurements increased with the reduction of dolomitic lime and increase of Epsom salt and gypsum applications. Leaf Na content was significantly reduced using higher proportions of gypsum and Epsom salt. Soil pH was also reduced by more than 1 pH unit after a growing season. Soil pH did increase when irrigated with highly alkaline water. Growers using alkaline water need to manage irrigation water and soil pH and consider using gypsum and Epsom salt reducing dolomitic lime rates as a source of Ca and Mg. All Ca and Mg sources provided greater than the threshold levels of leaf Ca and Mg content.