Freshwater fish farming in salt affected waterlogged areas

摘要

In Punjab, about 1.72 lakh ha area in the south west is severely affected by salinity/sodicity and water logging. Although unfit for crop production the salt-affected/water-logged area can be effectively utilized for aquaculture. In India, about 1.75 crore acres of the land is salt-affected and water logged. The problem is acute in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. In Punjab, about 1.72 lakh ha area in the south west is severely affected by salinity/sodicity and water logging. This area is largely unfit for crop production. Although, the problem of water logging is solved to some extent recently, still a vast area is affected by salinity and water logging problem. Although unfit for agricultural production, the salt-affected/ water-logged area can be effectively utilized for aquaculture. A survey conducted by the investigating team of Punjab Agricultural University during 1997-98 revealed a wide range of salinity variation in south-west Punjab. The salinity varied from as low as 0.5ppt, at Cotton Research Station, Goniana (Distt. Muktsar) to as high as 43.8 ppt in village Chhajrana (Distt. Ferozepur). Thus, there is a large variation in the salinity of this area. There is a possibility of culturingfreshwaterspecies in the low to medium salinity zone and brackish water species in the medium to high saiinity zone.