Nutrient accumulation and sodicity reclamation potential of German chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) under varying sodicity and fertility levels

摘要

A pot experiment was conducted during 1994-95 and 1995-96 at Banthra Research station of National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, to evaluate the nutrient accumulation and soil sodicity reclamation potential of German chamomile (Chamomilla recutita). Treatments comprising three sodicity levels (ESP 16, 32 and 53) as main plot treatments and twelve fertility levels in combination of three nitrogen levels (0, 60 and 120 kg N/ha) and two levels each of phosphorus and potassium (0 and 50 kg/ha) insub plot treatment, were arranged in split plot design. Uptake of NPK and sodium registered significant decrease with increasing levels of sodicity and increased with increasing levels of nitrogen up to 120 kg N/ha and phosphorus up to 50 kg/ha. As a result of growing German chamomile crop, 24 per cent decrease in the ESP as compared to initial values was recorded in the soil with sodicity levels 16 as against 17 and 7 per cent decrease at the sodicity levels 32 and 53, respectively. Raising the fertility levels also helped to significantly reduce the ESP of the soil. It is concluded that chamomile crop can be successfully employed as a promising species for biological method of soil reclamation.