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EFFECTIVE USE OF BRACKISH WATER ON SALINE-SODIC SOILS FOR RICE AND WHEAT PRODUCTION

SAEED A ABRO^*, A. R. MAHAR AND K.H. TALPUR

Abstract: The majority of ground water pumped through tube-well is brackish and unfit for irrigation. But this water can be utilized on problem soils if amendments are added. A field experiment was carried out to utilize the brackish water with pH 7.7, EC 2.93 dSm^-1, TSS 1875, SAR 5.4 on saline-sodic soil with pH 8.28-8.48, ECe 6.28-7.44 dSm^-1 and SAR 17.25-23.37 in a randomized block design. The five amendments [T1=Brackish water only (control), T2= FYM @10 tons ha^-1, T3= RH @10 tons ha^-1, T4= FYM+RH @ 5+5 tons ha^-1 and T5= gypsum100% soil requirements] were applied in rice-wheat cropping system. The effects of brackish water were assessed on the soil properties and on crop growth and yield. The pH remained unaffected by the treatments as well as crops while EC and SAR levels reduced significantly in all treatments after harvest of rice and wheat. ECe slightly increased after wheat harvest. The highest reduction of EC and SAR were found in T5 followed by T4 and T3. The grains panicle^-1, 1000 grain weight (g) and grain yield (Kgha^-1) in rice were significantly lowered in T1 (control) while maximum results were found in T5 followed by T2. Similarly, in wheat brackish water (T1) reduced number of grains spike^-1, 1000 grain weight (g) and grain yield (Kg ha^-1), while the maximum plant height and grains spike^-1 were  found in T3 followed by T2 and maximum 1000 grain weight was found in T5 followed by T2 while maximum grain yield was in T5 followed by T4.   

Department of Botany, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur