Abstract
A lot of crop residues, kitchen wastes and tree leaves are wasted annually. These
materials can be composted and used for improvement of soil health. The possibility of
using compost in reclamation of salt affected soil was studied with the treatments i.e.
control (no amendment), gypsum @ 100 % GR, compost 20 t ha-1, gypsum 50 @ %
GR+ compost @ 20 t ha-1, gypsum 50 @ % GR+ compost @ 10 t ha-1, gypsum 25 @
% GR+ compost @ 20 t ha-1 and gypsum @ 25 % GR+ compost @ 10 t ha-1.in ricewheat rotation at farmer field in Haveli Karimdad, Pindi Bhattian district Hafizabad,
Punjab, Pakistan. The selected field was prepared and leveled. The design of the
experiment was randomized complete block (RCBD) with four replications having the
plot size of 8m x 6m. The prepared compost was applied and incorporated according to
the treatments plan thirty days before transplanting of rice. Uniform cultural practices
were applied to all the treatments. Rice-wheat crop rotation was used. The data for
paddy yield of rice and wheat grain were recorded at maturity. The results showed that
gypsum application @ 50% GR + compost @ 20 t ha-1 remained statistically at par with
gypsum application @ 100% GR for producing biomass, paddy and wheat grain yield.
However other treatments remained inferior but significantly better than control. The
pHs and SAR were decreased significantly after harvesting of 2nd rice crop in two
treatments i.e. gypsum application @ 100% GR and gypsum @ 50% GR+ compost @
20 t ha-1. The ECe was reduced to less than 4 dS m-1 in all the treatments except control
after 1st rice crop. The physical properties of soil such as bulk density, porosity and
hydraulic conductivity were also improved with passage of time. Results of current
study suggested that salt affected soil can rehabilitate to their original potential if
gypsum is applied at the full rate (100% GR) alone or decrease its quantity 25 or 50%
by combining it with compost at rate of 20 or 10 t ha-1.
Muhammad Anwar Zaka, Khalil Ahmed, Hafeezullah Rafa, Muhammad Sarfraz, Helge Schmeisk. (2018) Effectiveness of compost and gypsum for amelioration of saline sodic soil in rice wheat cropping system, Asian Journal of Agriculture and Biology, Volume 6, Issue 4.
-
Views
919 -
Downloads
91
Article Details
Volume
Issue
Type
Language
