Validation of common salt application on productivity, profitability, nutrient uptake and soil health of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) under shifting cultivation area of Nagaland

A replicated field experiment with rice cv. bhalum-3 (130-140 day's duration) was conducted during the kharif season of 2012-2014 at farmer's jhum field, Medziphema village, Dimapur district of Nagaland. Experiment was conducted following 12 treatment imposed in completely randomized block design with three replications: control/weedy check, weed free check, 20-200 kg NaCl ha(-1) (2-20 % common salt conc.). Experimental results revealed that weed free check showed its superiority in respect to growth, yield attributes, yield, economics, nutrient content and uptake as well as soil health over control and different levels of common salt applied (2-20 %). However, among levels of common salt, application of 10 % common salt recorded significantly higher growth and yield attributes, which was found to be statistically at par with 12-20 % salt applied. Similarly, higher grain yield (2316 kg ha(-1)), straw yield (3589 kg ha(-1)) and biological yield (5949 kg ha(-1)) were recorded with application of 10 % common salt, which was noted significantly superior to their preceding levels (2-8 % NaCl) and beyond that effect of applied salt was found to be statically at par (12-20 %). In respect of soil health, application of common salt does not exert any marked influence on sodium (Na+) concentration, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR).