Utilisation of loess for soil amelioration

In Hungary loess has long been used for soil reclamation. The main steps of the method are: horizon A and B are removed from a suitable area and their material is stockpiled at the margins of the resulting pit. The loess (horizon C), this way exposed, is excavated and spread over the salt affected soils to be improved then mixed with their upper layer. The pit is named in Hungarian digó (pit). The name of the reclamation process is the digo method or spreading of yellow earth. Digó method is mainly used for the amelioration of salt affected soils with an acid A horizon and its benefits are as follows:

1. The acidity of the horizon A is eliminated
2. The soil structure is improved
3. The amount of calcium (a plant nutrient) is increased
4. Soil fertility is improved continuously
5. The soil depth is extended which adds to the relative volume of the ground water table.