Study of Response to N, P and K in a Salt Affected Soil along Raverine Tract of Sutlej

Abstract

Saline and alkali soils in the Punjab have been found to respond to the application of plant nutrients (1,2). Most of the work reported in these studies was conducted on soils of Kamma series or on soils of heavier texture. There are thousands of acres of saltaffected soils along the beds of Punjab rivers, where the texture is usually light and drainage conditions vary according to the texture of the sub-soil layers. The degree of salinity and alkalinity varies and some of them have much lower salt levels compared to upland soils. Very little information on the fertility status of these soils has been reported. Sehgal et al., (4) surveyed a part of this tract and reported these soils to be medium to high in organic matter and available nitrogen, but low in avilable phosphporus content. With the checking of floods from river sutlej as a result of the construction of Bhakra dam, it has become possible to exploit these soils. The studies reported m this paper pertain to same field and pot experiments conducted on such a soil.