Effect of Gypsum Content and Nitrogen Levels on Ammonium Absorption and Wheat Growth in Gypsiferous Soils

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the autumn agricultural season of 2022–2023 to evaluate the impact of gypsum content and nitrogen fertilizer on ammonium absorption and wheat plant growth. Gypsum soil samples with varying gypsum contents (low, medium, high) were collected from specified locations based on their ammonium preparation potential determined through laboratory analyses. The experiment utilized pots with a 10 kg soil capacity and included three gypsum soil levels and four nitrogen fertilizer levels (0, 210, 420, and 840 kg ha⁻¹). A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates was employed, resulting in 36 treatments.

The findings showed that nitrogen fertilizer and gypsum concentration had a major impact on ammonium absorption. The maximum ammonium absorption (43.17 mg kg⁻¹) was obtained with low gypsum soil and the highest nitrogen level (L1N3), whereas the lowest absorption (14.49 mg kg⁻¹) was obtained with high gypsum soil and no nitrogen fertilizer (L3N0).Similarly, the amount of gypsum and nitrogen fertilizer had a significant impact on the dry weight of wheat plants; the L1N3 interaction generated the greatest dry weight (15.46 g), outperforming all other treatments. Conversely, the L3N0 interaction weighed the least at 13.13 g.