Abstract
Plantation of salt tolerant trees on salt affected land is an environmental friendly and economically viable
strategy to live with salinity where ground water is also highly saline. We studied growth response of
eucalyptus camaldulensis on salt affected land and its impact on soil pH, EC, SAR, organic matter
contents and infiltration rate. Two sites were selected with varying levels of natural salinity. Eucalyptus
seedlings were grown on both sites for three years. A wide variation exhibited in growth of eucalyptus
plants at each site. Sixteen plants were selected randomly on each site on the basis of visual growth
differences. Among these selected trees, eight were categorized as good and other eight as poor plants.
Growth parameters, such as plant height, tree girth and numbers of branches were recorded to monitor
the effect of salinity on plant growth. Soil samples under the canopy of selected plants were collected up
to the depth of 90 cm and analyzed for EC, SAR, pH, organic matter contents and infiltration rate. Growth
of Eucalyptus plants at both sites was significantly affected by salinity as compared with other plantations
grown on other fields (visual observation). All growth parameters were significantly more in good plants at
both sites compared to poor plants. Sodium and chloride concentration was significantly more with lower
K:Na ratio in poor plants than in good ones. Amelioration of salt affected soil by Eucalyptus plantation was
assessed by comparing the soil chemical and physical properties before plantation and after three years.
The soil pH was quite lower in soil under good trees than in soil under poor trees at all depths and at both
sites. Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) of soil under good plants at both sites was quite lower when sampled
under the canopy of poor plants
