Effect of soil amendments to improve the soil health and food-fodder production in problematic soil under semi-arid region.

摘要

A field experiment was conducted in Rajasthan, India during 2006-07 to investigate the effect of gypsum and farmyard manure on soil health and food-fodder production in salt-affected soils under semiarid region. Gypsum was applied at the rates of 0, 2.5 and 5.0 t/ha and farmyard manure (FYM) at 0, 5, and 10 t/ha. The moong [Vigna radiata] in the kharif season and mustard in the rabi season were taken as test crops. The application of gypsum at 5.0 t/ha resulted to significantly higher growth parameter. Each successive increase in gypsum application significantly increased moong yield. Similarly, the application of FYM at 10.0 t/ha recorded significantly higher plant height and grain yield in moong than no FYM application. The increase in grain yield of moong was 46.1% due to gypsum application, 30.1% due to FYM application over control. A significant increase in seed yield of mustard was recorded with the application of 5 t gypsum/ha and 10 t FYM/ha in comparison to control, which was higher by 31.7% due to gypsum and 19.4% due to FYM application. The application of gypsum and FYM caused a reduction in soil pH, increase in organic carbon and slight reduction in bulk density and thus improving soil physicochemical properties for better growth and yield of crop plants.