Response of Pearl Millet Hybrids to Gypsum under Sodic Soil and Water Conditions

摘要

Dhankar et al. (1990) have reported that the indiscriminate use of underground water with high residual sodium carbonate (RSC) for irrigation in arid and semi-arid parts of northern India has resulted in high levels of sodium in the rhizosphere. The application of gypsum has frequently been recommended to reduce soil and water sodicity (Yadav and Kumar 1994) and improve crop yields (Yadav et al. 1992). The beneficial effect of gypsum application on pearl millet under sodic soil conditions has been reported (Yadav et al. 1994). To evaluate the effect of varying levels of gypsum (0, 50, 75, and 100% gypsum requirement equivalent to neutralization of soil, i.e., GR) on the yield and economic performance of two pearl millet hybrids (HHB 60 and HHB 67) under sodic soil conditions, a field experiment was conducted at the CCS Haryana Agricultural University's Regional Research Station, Bawal during the 1994 rainy season on an alkali loamy sand [pH 9.5, electrical conductivity (EC) (1:2) 0.23, and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) 41]. Gypsum requirement for 100% neutralization of soil was calculated at 4.2 t ha~(-1) according to the method outlined by Khanna and Yadav (1979). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The net plot size was 8.7 m~2. Only one irrigation with sodic water (RSC 12.0 me L~(-1), EC 1.97 d Sm~(-1)) was given during the cropping season.