Fodder production and soil ameliorative potentials of Suaeda nudiflora (Willd.) Moq. in arid salt land of Rajasthan

Abstract

In present study, Suaeda nudiflora was planted on different soil mounds viz., double ridge mounds (DRM), circular dished mounds (CDM) and normal pit (control) in arid salt affected soils of Jodhpur, Rajasthan in a randomized block
design. Results indicated that S. nudiflora adapted well to the dry land salt stress conditions, and after 84 months, it recorded 79.2 and 66.7% survival on CDM and DRM as compared to 45.8% in control. The average growth (height and crown diameter) on structures was also higher. The total dry biomass availability was recorded maximum on CDM (2.25 t ha-1), followed by DRM (2.16 t ha-1) and control (1.09 t ha-1) at 36 months of age. However, the dry leaf mass was 0.72 t ha-1 on CDM, 0.81 t ha-1 on DRM and 0.41 t ha-1 on control. At 84 months, the dry biomass yield was recorded maximum on DRM (3.90 t ha-1) which was 1.7 times more than CDM (2.29 t ha-1) and 4.1 times more than control (0.96 t ha-1); however, the leaf component was 0.53 t ha-1 on CDM, 0.65 t ha-1 on DRM and 0.26 t ha-1 on control which is less due to increase in woodiness. Its growth improved the soil conditions and promoted the growth of salt tolerant grasses, Sporobolus diander and Chloris virgata
indicating potential of S. nudiflora to be introduced as fodder species on arid sandy soils as a silvipastoral system. The DRM has proved to be the best planting practice with appreciable survival, growth and biomass yield.