Advances in Environmental Biology, 8(13) August 2014, Pages: 960-965 AENSI Journals Advances in Environmental Biology ISSN-1995-0756 EISSN-1998-1066 Journal home page: http://www.aensiweb.com/AEB/ Corresponding Author: Kamran Mohsenifar. Department Of Soil Science, College Agriculture, Khouzestan Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran. Tel: 989133857322 E-mail: k.mohsenifar@khouzestan.srbiau.ac.ir. Studying the effect of Leaching on the Reduction of Salt and Sodium in the Saline Sodic Soil of Ramshir, Khuzestan (Iran) Mansoor Shabani, Kamran Mohsenifar, Ebrahim Panahpoor Department Of Soil Science, College Agriculture, Khouzestan Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article history: Received 3 August 2014 Received in revised form 27 September 2014 Accepted 24 October 2014 Available online 3 November 2014 Keywords: Ramshir, Salt, Leaching, EC and Empirical model Due to its geographical status, Iran is located in an area of the earth where most zones are arid and semi-arid. Hence, soil salinity is natural in such conditions. Leaching is the only way to reduce soil salt. Yet, with respect to the aridness of the area, water deficiency as well as the risk of sodium spread in soil, a scientific method is necessary to estimate required water. This study estimates the water required for leaching and reducing salt and sodium levels in Ramshir soil. Accordingly, 12 plots (3 replicates and 4 depths of irrigation water) of 1m2 were leached in four stages (25cm in each) and sampled. The Electrical Conductivity (EC) and Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP) in soil were measured. And, the percentage of leached slat was calculated. Using SPSS software and examining different empirical models, the best model with maximum coefficient of determination was selected by for leaching the soil of the area. Results indicated that adding average 100cm water to soil, electrical conductivity was reduced from an average 27.03 to 16.93dS/m. © 2014 AENSI Publisher All rights reserved. To Cite This Article: Mansoor Shabani, Kamran Mohsenifar, Ebrahim Panahpoor, Studying the effect of Leaching on the Reduction of Salt and Sodium in the Saline Sodic Soil of Ramshir, Khuzestan (Iran). Adv. Environ. Biol., 8(13), 960-965, 2014 INTRODUCTION Soil is the major foundation of civilization for every country. In fact, soil is the vital material without which human being cannot live. A hundred million humans’ life is directly related to soil and agriculture. And, soil is the only element of living [1]. In saline and (or) saline sodium soils, due to the increase of soluble salts densities in soil profile, water absorption by plant root done based on osmosis phenomenon is disrupted. And, it hinders and stops plants’ growth. Besides, some ions existing in the saturated extract of soil (e.g. sodium, chlorine, and bromine) result in especial plant poisonings [2]. In most cases, the increase of soluble salts density in the saturated extract of soil accompanies the increase of exchangeable sodium ion (Exchangeable Na + ) in the exchangeable soil complex. The adverse effects of exchangeable sodium on plants growth can be attributed to factors such as plant poisonings, lack of nutritive balance in plants, and the increase of soil reaction level (pH) [2]. Due to its geographical status, Iran is located in an area of the earth where most zones are arid and semi- arid. In this country, evaporation level in some areas is 8 times their precipitation level [3]. Raj and Nath (1980) reported that the leaching of soluble salts is basically done by mass flow. They concluded that one unit volume of water is adequate for leaching a great deal (%90) of soluble salts from soil profile. Concerning the determination of water required for leaching soluble salts from soils profiles [4]. Rio (1957), Dileman (1963), Hoffman (1980), Pazira and Kawachi (1981), and Verma and Gupta (1989) presented a variety of empirical models with the mathematical equations of hyperbolic and exponential functions. Each of these equations is determined based on soil texture, initial salinity, and the condition of the place where leaching experiments were conducted. In addition to Rio (1957) equation, intermittent flooding method was applied to set the equations (derivation of Pazira) [5]. To estimate the water volume required for leaching soluble salts in southeast saline and sodium lands of Khuzestan Province, Pazira and Keshavarz (1997) presented empirical (exponential) model. To study the feasibility of leaching soluble salts from soils profiles in south Khuzestan Province [5]. Mohsenifar et al (2006) presented reverse empirical model. They reported appropriate correlation between theoretical and empirical number [6].