Functions of Russian Melilotus officinalis on Degraded Soil Improvement.

To improve the serious situation of soil degradation in China, tests were carried out to study the improvement effects of Russian Melilotus officinalis on the low base saturation acid soil, the alkaline-saline soil and the heavy metal contaminated soil. The results showed that M. officinalis could improve the low base saturation acid soil, increase the salt, alkali content, mineral nutrition and organic nutrient, which indicated that M. officinalis could be planted in the acid soil, and had a significant ecological eefect on soil improvement. M. officinalis achieved a remarkable eefect on improving the alkaline-saline soil (pH 8.5 - 9.5) that the soil desalted, dealkalized and had more organic nutrient. Moreover, M. ofifcinalis could improve the heavy metal contaminated soil and had the ability to enrich and transform heavy metal elements, especially Cd and Ni, thereby presenting significant repair eefects on soil improvement. Therefore, Russian M. ofifcinalis had multiple--fects on degraded soil improvement, so it is worthy of application and popularization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]