{
  "abstract": "Soil salinity and sodicity are among the major challenges threatening agricultural productivity in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. A column experiment was conducted in laboratory on saline-sodic soils of Metehara Sugar Estate to evaluate the effectiveness of phosphogypsum and leaching in reclaiming these soils. The treatments comprised of five rates of phosphogypsum equivalent to 50, 75, 100, 150, and 200% gypsum requirement, 100% gypsum requirement of natural gypsum, and an absolute control with no amendments applied, and five volumes of leaching water. The treatments were arranged in Complete Randomized Design with three replications. The leaching water was applied to the columns in an intermittent ponding mode. Leachates and soil samples collected from the columns after termination of the leaching process were analyzed for selected soil properties. Results showed that applying phosphogypsum at a rate of 100% gypsum requirement or higher (which is equivalent to ≥ 13 tons/ha) along with 3–4 pore volume of leaching water was found to be the most effective combination to reduce salinity and sodicity to levels that are suitable for most crops (ECe < 4 dS/m and ESP < 10%,). The efficiency of phosphogypsum equivalent to 200% gypsum requirement was 81% and 75% in soluble salt removal and Na reduction, respectively. Results of the study suggest that phosphogypsum is a promising reclamation material for saline-sodic soils. However, a greenhouse and field experiments have to be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of these amendments under controlled and natural conditions and come-up with implementable rate recommendations.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Haramaya University, School of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences, Ethiopia",
    "College of Agriculture, School of Plant and Horticultural Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kebenu Feyisa Gonfa"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Kibebew Kibret Tsehai"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sheleme Beyene Jiru"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lemma Wogi Mirkena"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0nbds13fhzhpq.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0345688",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "0nbds13fhzhpq",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0345688",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1111|Soil Management and Crop Yield"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Agriculture/Agricultural methods/Agricultural irrigation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Agriculture/Agricultural soil science"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Earth sciences/Soil science/Agricultural soil science"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Earth sciences/Soil science/Soil chemistry"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Earth sciences/Soil science/Soil chemistry/Soil pH"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Ecology and environmental sciences/Environmental chemistry/Soil chemistry"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Ecology and environmental sciences/Environmental chemistry/Soil chemistry/Soil pH"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Environmental engineering/Water management/Desalination"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Chemical elements/Sodium"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Chemical properties/Salinity"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Environmental chemistry/Soil chemistry"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Environmental chemistry/Soil chemistry/Soil pH"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Physical chemistry/Chemical properties/Salinity"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Physical chemistry/Ions/Cations"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7212288164",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0345688&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-11",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0nbds13fhzhpq.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:56Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0345688",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0345688"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "plos:environmental chemistry",
      "subfield": "environmental"
    },
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "plos:physical chemistry",
      "subfield": "physical"
    },
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "plos:soil science",
      "subfield": "hydrology-soils"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Evaluation of phosphogypsum and pore volume water rates for reclaiming saline-sodic cambisols of Metehara sugar estate, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia",
  "title_text": "Evaluation of phosphogypsum and pore volume water rates for reclaiming saline-sodic cambisols of Metehara sugar estate, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:56Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0nbds13fhzhpq",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}