RECLAMATION OF SALINE-SODIC SOILS UNDER RICE-WHEAT CROP ROTATION

A field experiment oil a saline-sodic soil with pH 8.21-8.42, ECe 6.40-7.90 dSm(-1) and SAR 17.79-23.46mmol(-1) was carried out using five soil reclaiming treatments viz., leaching (Control), Farm yard manure (FYM) @ 10 tons ha(-1), Rice Husk (RH) @ 10 tons ha(-1), FYM+RH @ 5+5 tons ha(-1) and Gypsum @ 100% soil requirement in a complete randomized block design with four replications. Rice variety SARSHAR and wheat variety TD-1 were sown in rotation. The effects of amendments were analyzed on soil physical and chemical properties as well as Crop growth and yield. The results showed that all treatments including control significantly lowered the soil pH, ECe and SAR levels after rice harvest. After wheat harvest, however, the slight increase in pH and ECe were observed while, the SAR levels decreased further. Despite this increase, the pH and ECe remained significantly lowered than original levels. The treatment order of SAR decrease was T5>T4>T2>T3>Tl. Although the inter treatment differences were significant but the plant height. grains panicle(-1) and 1000 grain weight were found the highest in T2 followed by T4. The highest grain yield kg ha(-1) of wheat was observed in T4 followed by T1.