Effect of Soil Amendments on Reclamation of Saline-Sodic Soil

A pot experiment was conducted on saline-sodic soil to compare and assess the reclamation ability of different amendments and amendment combinations based on soil quality parameters. Treatments prepared were; T1-control (soil only), T2-soil + 1% cow dung (CD), T3–soil + 1% partially burnt paddy husk (PH), T4-soil + gypsum (GYP)(100% Gypsum Requirement (GR), T5–soil + 1% CD + GYP (100% GR), T6–soil + 1% PH + GYP (100% GR). Organic amendments were applied at 1% of soil weight, and gypsum was applied at 100% gypsum requirement as surface application and incubated at room temperature (31±1 oC) for 90 days. After incubation, 42 days leaching was provided at a rate of 3 l/pot and the application was completed through 6 irrigation cycles/treatment with 7 days interval. After incubation and leaching of soils, onion variety Wallara-60 was grown in these pots. Results obtained both after the incubation and leaching show significant differences in bulk density, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, exchangeable Ca²⁺ and Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) among the treatments in comparison with the control. Among the treatments, the highest reduction in SAR (14.62 mmol/l)^1/2 and EC (1.71 dS/m) were recorded by the GYP+PH (T6). A significant difference was observed in the tiller number among the treatments. Treatments GYP (T4), CD+GYP (T5) and PH+GYP (T6) showed a significantly higher yield than that of control, while T5 and T6 showing the highest yield. Therefore, incorporation of partially burnt paddy husk and cow dung increased the effectiveness of gypsum in reclaiming saline-sodic soils. Further, the onion yield parameters supported the findings.

Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 23 (2): 168 –176 (2012)