Effect of Capillary Barrier on Soil Salinity and Corn Growth at Saemangeum Reclaimed Tidal Land

Salt accumulation at soil surface is one of the most detrimental factors for crop production in reclaimed tidal land. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of capillary barriers beneath the soil surface on dynamics of soil salts at coarse-textured reclaimed tidal land. A field experiment was conducted at Saemangeum reclaimed tidal land for two years (2012-2013). Capillary barriers ($3.5{\times}12m$) were treated with crushed-stone, oyster shell waste, coal briquette ash, coal bottom ash, rice hull and woodchip at 40-60 cm depth from soil surface. Silage corn (Zea mays) was cultivated during the experimental period and soil salinity was monitored periodically. Soil salinity was significantly reduced with capillary barrier compared to that of control. Oyster shell waste was one of the most effective capillary barrier materials to control soil salinity at Saemangeum reclaimed tidal land. At the first growing season capillary barrier did not influence on corn growth regardless of types of the material, but plant biomass and withering rate of corn were significantly improved with capillary barrier at the second growing season. The results of this study showed that capillary barrier was effective on the control of soil salinity and improvement of corn growth, which indicated that capillary barrier treatment can be considered one of the best management practices for stable crop production at Saemangeum reclaimed tidal land.