Long-term Effect of Sodic Water for Irrigation on Soil Quality and Wheat Yield in Rice-Wheat Cropping System
Soil quality and wheat yield under sodic water irrigation
242 / 154
Authors
-
Kirti Yadav
Department of Microbiology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra-136119, Haryana, India
-
Neeraj K Aggarwal
Department of Microbiology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra-136119, Haryana, India
-
Awtar Singh
ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal-132001, Haryana, India
-
Gajender Yadav
ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal-132001, Haryana, India
-
Rajender Kumar Yadav
ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal-132001, Haryana, India
Keywords:
Sodic water, Irrigation, Soil properties, Wheat yieldAbstract
Increasing scarcity of good quality water in many arid and semi-arid regions necessitates the use of poor quality groundwater for irrigation. Soil degradation resulting from alkali water irrigation has become a serious threat to soil health. In the present study, we conducted an investigation (2021-22) on the physicochemical properties (soil organic carbon, available Na, and available K) of sandy loam soil under a semi-controlled lysimeter. Wheat was grown as an experimental crop, which was irrigated with synthetic alkali waters having similar salts (total electrolyte concentration, TEC = 30 me L−1) and sodium adsorption ratio (SARiw 10 mmol L−1) but varying in residual sodium carbonate (RSC) are being continuously applied since 2004 (20 years). Five types of irrigation water having different levels of residual sodium carbonate comprised. (T1) best available groundwater, (T2) residual sodium carbonate water 1 (RSC- 5 me L–1), (T3) RSC water 2 (RSC 10 me L–1), (T4) RSC water 3 [RSC 10 treated with gypsum (RSC 10 neutralized to RSC 5 me L–1 with gypsum)] and (T5) RSC water 4 [RSC 10 treated with sulphur (RSC 10 neutralized to RSC 5 me L–1 with sulphur)]. Soil samples were collected after harvesting two wheat varieties (KRL 210 and HD 3226). Long-term irrigations with alkali water increased the available Na and K in the soil. Furthermore, soil organic carbon (SOC) decreased significantly with increasing alkalinity of irrigation water. Continuous irrigation with alkali water reduced grain yield of wheat by 31.7% over BAW. Moreover, the addition of gypsum and sulphuric acid has shown some capacity to partially restore soil properties, although not to the level of BAW. The majority of soil parameters under both crop cultivars showed a similar trend. The study's findings led to the conclusion that continuous applications of alkali water drastically degrade soil physicochemical properties. Partial neutralization of alkali water did not allow for the sustained existence of soil physicochemical properties. Consequently, it is recommended that the rate at which amendments are added to alkali water be adjusted to restore the decline in soil physicochemical properties.
Downloads
References
Bhardwaj AK, Rajwar D, Nagaraja MS (2021) Soil fertility problems and management. In: Minhas PS, Yadav RK, Sharma PC (eds) Managing salt-afected soils for sustainable agriculture. ICAR, New Delhi. pp 386–407.
Chhuneja PS, Kaur Y, Vikal NSB and Dhaliwal HS (2005) Development of ‘PBW 343’ near isogenic lines for leaf rust resistance genes Lr 24 and Lr 28. Crop Improvement 32: 7–13.
Choudhary OP and Bajwa MS (2021) Sodic water irrigations and their management. In: Minhas PS, Yadav RK, Sharma PC (eds) Managing salt-affected soils for sustainable agriculture. ICAR, New Delhi. pp 485–513.
Choudhary OP, Bhalla M, Sharma S, Sharda R and Mavi MS (2019) Long-term impact of cyclic use of sodic and canal water for irrigation on soil quality and wheat yield in cotton-wheat cropping system. Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science 67(1): 34-43.
Chowdhury N, Marschner P and Burns RG (2011a) Soil microbial activity and community composition: impact of changes in matric and osmotic potential. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 43: 1229–1236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.02.012
Fagodiya RK, Singh A, Singh R, Rani S, Kumar S, Rai AK and Chaudhari SK (2023) The food-energy-water-carbon nexus of the rice-wheat production system in the western Indo-Gangetic Plain of India: An impact of irrigation system, conservational tillage and residue management. Science of The Total Environment 860: 160428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160428
Makarana G, Yadav RK, Sheoran P, Kumar R, Kumar A, Ram H and Rajput VD (2023) Effects of sodic water irrigation and neutralizing amendments on physiological, biochemical, and nutritional quality traits of fodder sorghum. Agronomy 13(4): 1128. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041128
Mandal AK, Sharma RC and Singh G (2009) Assessment of salt affected soils in India using GIS. Geocarto International 24: 437–456.
Minhas PS, Bali A, Bhardwaj AK, Singh A and Yadav RK (2021) Structural stability and hydraulic characteristics of soils irrigated for two decades with waters having residual alkalinity and its neutralization with gypsum and sulfuric acid. Agricultural Water Management 244: 106609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106609
Reitz DN and Haynes RJ (2003) Effects of irrigation induced salinity and sodicity on soil microbial activity. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 35: 845-854. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-0717(03)00125-1
SAS (2013) Statistical Analysis Software. Users’ Guide Statistics Version 9.4. SAS Institute Inc., Cary.
Setia R, Marschner P, Baldock J and Chittleborough D (2010) Is CO2 evolution in saline soils affected by an osmotic effect and calcium carbonate? Biology and Fertility of Soils 46: 781–792. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-010-0479-3
Sharma DK, Thimmappa K, Chinchmalatpure AR, Mandal AK, Yadav RK, Chaudhari SK, Kumar S and Sikka AK (2015) Assessment of production and monetary losses from salt affected soils in India. Technical Bulletin. ICAR-CSSRI, Karnal, India. pp. 1–99.
Sheoran P, Basak N, Kumar A, Yadav RK, Singh R, Sharma R, Kumar S, Singh RK and Sharma PC (2021b) Ameliorants and salt tolerant varieties improve rice-wheat production in soils undergoing sodification with alkali water irrigation in Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. Agricultural Water Management 243: 106492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106492
Sheoran P, Kumar A, Sharma R, Barman A, Parjapat K, Singh RK, Kumar S, Sharma PC, Ismail AM and Singh RK (2021c) Managing sodic soils for better productivity and farmers’ income by integrating use of salt tolerant rice varieties and matching agronomic practices. Field Crops Research 270: 108192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2021.108192
Singh Y and Singh B (2015) Soil and fertilizer nitrogen. In: Rattan RK, Katyal JC, Dwivedi BS, Sarkar AK, Bhattacharyya T, Tarafdar JC, Kukal SS (eds) Soil science: an introduction. Indian Society of Soil Science, New Delhi. pp 541–569.
Singh A, Kumar A, Yadav RK, Minhas PS and Saini U (2022) Long-term effect of alkali and partially neutralized irrigation water on soil quality. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 22(2): 1252-1266.
Singh P, Choudhary OP and Mavi MS (2018) Irrigation-induced salinization effects on soil chemical and biological properties under cotton-wheat rotation on loamy sand soil in northwest India. Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science 66: 386-391. http://dx.doi.org/10.5958/0974-0228.2018.00048.8
Wong VNL, Dalal RC and Greene RSB (2009) Carbon dynamics of sodic and saline soil following gypsum and organic material additions: a laboratory incubation. Applied Soil Ecology 41: 29–40.
Downloads
Submitted
Published
Issue
Section
License
Journal of Soil Salinity and Water Quality serves as an official organ of the Indian Society of Soil Salinity and Water Quality (ISSSWQ) for the publication of research papers, reviews, and short communications as per the constitution and by-laws of the society. Soft and hard copy of the journal are sent free to all its members. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent court and forums in Kamal only. The society does not assume any responsibility for opinion by the authors in the articles and no-material in any form can be reproduced without the prior permission of the society. The society is not responsible for any delay, whatsoever, in publication/ delivery of the periodicals to the subscribers due to unforeseen circumstances or postal delay. The society does not vouch for any claims made by the advertisers of products and services. The publisher and the editors shall not be held liable for any consequences in the event of such claim not being honoured by the advertisers.
