Effect of FYM and Gypsum on Distribution of Micronutrient in Soil under Sodic Water Irrigation: A Long-Term Study

Abstract

Micronutrient deficiency is major constraints in crop production as well as crop quality. Deficiency of micronutrients in soil leads to lower micronutrient content and thereby causing health problem in animals and human being. Long-term field experiment under different vegetable cropping system was established in 1994 at the vegetable science research farm, CCS HAU, Hisar, India to study the effects of sodic water irrigation, gypsum and FYM on soil available micronutrients and soil properties. The field was irrigated with high RSC (11.5 me L-1) sodic water having three levels of gypsum (G0 = control, G1 = 50% neutralization of RSC), G2 = 100% neutralization of RSC, as well as FYM (F0 = control, F1 = 10 t ha-1, F2 = 20 t ha-1) in 2014-15 on a sandy loam Typic Ustochrept having 19.6% clay and 9.3 cmol(p+)kg-1 soil CEC in 0-30 cm layer. Electrical conductivity, available micronutrients (Mn, Cu, Fe and Zn) increased with increase in levels of FYM 0 to 20 t ha-1 and gypsum from 0 to 100% neutralization of RSC, respectively. The pH of soil was very high under F0G0 and decreased with the use of FYM and gypsum as amendments. These results indicate that the combined use of FYM and gypsum improved soil health and maintained the sustainability of the different vegetable cropping system.