A field experiment was conducted at Al-Dujaila region. 29 km east south of Al-kut province during the growing season of 2012 to evaluate the effect of irrigation water salinity (1.5 dSm-1 of river water and 8 dSm-1 of drainage water) in combination with seven organic residues (composted poultry. peat. corn cob. rice straw. Uncomposted poultry. composted cattle and uncomposted cattle) on soil salinity and some growth parameters of corn (Zea mays L.) Al-Rabee variety. Field was plowing. disking then reciving 0. 10. 20 or 40 ton ha-1 of organic residues incorporated to soil surface. Corn seeds were sown and irrigated with mentioned water salinity. The normal agricultural treatments of corn were practiced as usually followed in the commercial production of corn in Al-kut region. At the end of growing season soil salinity was obtioned at three soil layers (0-20. 20-40 and 40-60 cm). So some of plant growth parameters were obtioned which include K+/Na+ ratio of leaf ; dry weight of shoot and total grains yield.
Results showed that increasing residues rate decreased soil salinity espicially in (0-20) and (20-40) cm layers. This tend to increase K+/Na+ ratio in leaves and enhanced dry weight and grain yield of corn plant. As compared with other residues, composed poultry, peat and composed cattle gave the best results of soil salinity at all tested layers which result in high growth and grain yield of corn plant. Using of saline water (8 dSm-1) caused an increase in soil salinity at all layers ascompared with using water of 1.5 dS m-1 salinity. This tend to reduse K+/Na+ ratio, dry weight and grain yield of corn plant. The obtained shoot dry weight were 11.67 and 17.41 ton ha-1 and grain yield were 3.38 and 5.32 ton ha-1 at 8 and 1.5 dSm-1 water salinity. respectively.
Data also indicated that application of organic residues (especially composed poultry, peat and composted cattle) at level of 20 or 40 ton ha-1can reduce the negative impact of high water salinity and improved soil properties and plant and yield and may be considered as a good strategy for using saline water in irrigation.