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Not AvailableA long-term field study was initiated during 1995 at Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Lucknow (26°47′58′′ N and 80°46′24′′ E) to analyze the effect of agroforestry systems on amelioration of alkali soils. Three agroforestry systems (pastoral, silvipastoral and silvicultural) were compared with the control where no agroforestry system was introduced. Tree-based silvicultural and silvipastoral systems were characterized by tree species Prosopis juliflora and Acacia nilotica along with grass species Leptochloa fusca, Panicum maximum, Trifolium alexandrium and Chloris gayana. Growth of ten-year-old Prosopis juliflora and Acacia nilotica planted in combination with grasses was significantly higher over the silviculture system with the same species. Tree biomass yields of P. juliflora (77.20 t⋅ha-1) and A. nilotica (63.20 t⋅ha-1) planted under silvipastoral system were significantly higher than the sole plantation of (64.50 t⋅ha-1 and 52.75 t⋅ha-1). Fodder yield under the pastoral system was significantly higher than the silvipastoral system during initial years but it was at par with that of silvipastoral systems after eight years of plantation. The microbial biomass carbon in the soils of silvipastoral systems was significantly higher than in soils under sole plantation of trees and control systems. The Prosopis-based silvipastoral system proved more effective in reducing soil pH, displacing Na+ from the exchange complex, increasing organic carbon and available N, P and K. Improvement in soil physical properties such as bulk density, porosity, soil moisture and infiltration rate was higher in the Prosopis-based silvipastoral system than in the silviculture system or control. On the basis of biomass production and improvement in soil health due to tree + grass systems, silvipastoral agroforestry system could be adopted for sustainable reclamation highly alkali soils.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA field experiment was conducted at Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh during 2001-2002 to 2003-04 on a fine loamy, mixed, hyperthermic, sodic soil having high pH, low electrical conductivity, high exchangeable sodium percentage and very low water permeability to find out the combined effect of reduced dose gypsum and salt tolerant varieties of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) on productivity of rice – wheat cropping system in sodic soil. This study revealed that application of gypsum @ 25% gypsum requirement (G.R.) and growing of salt tolerant varieties of rice (CSR 13) and wheat (KRL19) significantly increased the yield attributes and yields of these crops in the system over control treatment as well as 15% G.R. So much so it was at par with 50% G.R. with non salt tolerant varieties. The magnitude of combined effect of reduced dose of gypsum and salt tolerant varieties was reflected in terms 17 and 8.2% increase in grain yield over their counterpart varieties. Significant interaction between gypsum and salt tolerant varieties on grain yield indicated that gypsum @ 25%G.R. with sodicity tolerant varieties in rice-wheat cropping system could save about 43% of the total initial expenditure for the reclamation of sodic soils over the recommended dose of gypsum (50% G.R.) with traditional sensitive varieties. Thus, for low cost effective technology, using salt tolerant varieties of rice (CSR 13) and wheat (KRL 19) in conjunction with reduced dose of gypsum (25% G.R.) proved highly and sustainable technology for resource scarce situations in sodic soils.U.P.Council of Agricultural Researc

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Not AvailableTo sustain the production of food and fuel, each portion of land need to be best utilized corresponding to ecology and land use capabilities. Harnessing the productivity potential of sal affected soils through the plantation of multipurpose tree species has the potential to put them under use of bioass and bioenergy production and also to improve the productivity of degraded lands. Besides providing biomass in terms of fuel, fodder, timber, afforestation will also lead to the bioamelioration of salt affected soils.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA field study to find out the suitable agro forestry systems in a highly alkali soil and their effect on improving the soil properties was initiated during 1995 at Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research station, Lucknow. The soil was poor in organic matter (0.08%) and available N (94kg ha-1) but high in available P (25kg ha-1) and K (237.44kg ha-1). The treatments include: T1, Kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca) for 4 years followed by Gutton panic (Panicum maximum) grass (without amendments); T2, Vilayati babul (Prosopis juliflora) as sole tree crop; T3, Deshi babul (Acacia nilotica) as sole tree crop; T4, Vilayati babul (Prosopis juliflora) + Kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca) for 4 years followed by berseem (Trifolium alexendrium) for 3 years (without amendments) and T5, Deshi babul (Acacia nilotica) + Kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca) for 4 years followed by Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) for 3 years. After 84 months of planting all the growth parameters including survival percent, plant height, diameter at breast height (DBH), diameter at stump height (DSH) and lopped biomass of Prosopis juliflora and Acacia nilotica grown in combination with inter crops of grasses were higher as compared to the sole plantation. Plant height was recorded to be 20 and14% higher in Prosopis juliflora and Acacia nilotica respectively grown in combination with grasses than the sole plantation of these species. The pH, EC and organic carbon of the surface soil (0-15cm) with Prosopis juliflora in combination with Kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca) for 4 years followed by Berseem (Trifolium alexendrium) for 3 years silvipastoral system has reduced to the level of 8.87. However, pH was > 9.0 in case of the remaining treatments. Vilayati Babool (Prosopis juliflora) + Berseem (Trifolium alexendrium) silvipastoral system gave highest net return (Rs. 15155ha-1 yr-1) followed by Gutton panic (Panicum maximum) as sole crop (Rs.7660 ha-1 yr-1) than the sole plantation of Prosopis juliflora (Rs.5610 ha-1 yr-1) and Acacia nilotica (Rs.3260 ha-1 yr-1) and appeared to be the most suitable and economically viable alternate land use system for alkali soils.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe book entitled “Participatory Approaches to Enhance Farm Productivity of Salt Affected Soils” is focused to enhance practitioners’, knowledge and skills in the effective application of participatory approaches for accelerating the adoption of appropriate and improved technologies for livelihood security of sodic land farmers and to strengthen their capacities for communicating the participatory approaches to stake holders for enhancing farm productivity of salt affected soils. The book covers wide range of topics comprising concepts of participatory approaches, experiences in agricultural technology dissemination, recourse conservation, integrated farming system, on farm water management, nutrient management, plant protection, weed management and crop diversification approaches under sodic environment based on experiences while working in field with people’s participation. This publication will help the researchers, extension workers and developers in the field of agriculture to deal with participatory technology development processes.IRR

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Not AvailableA field experiment was conducted during 2003-04 to 2005-06 at the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Lucknow to find alternate options to the rice—wheat cropping system in partially reclaimed sodic soils. Four cropping systems, viz. rice—wheat (cereal-based), sorghum—berseem (fodder-based), sweet basil (tulsi)—matricaria (medicinal and aromatic crop-based) and chilli—garlic (spices-based) were evaluated in the light of sustainability, potentiality and profitability. Maximum rice equivalent yield (14.21 t ha⁻¹) was recorded with sweet basil-matricaria cropping system, whereas the highest production efficiency (61.25 kg ha⁻¹ day⁻¹) was recorded with sweet basil—matricaria cropping system. Sorghum—berseem cropping system gave maximum (78.35%) land-use efficiency. Chilli—garlic cropping system recorded the highest water expense efficiency (150.72 kg ha⁻¹ cm) followed by sweet basil—matricaria, but the total amount of water used was more (125.65 cm) in the rice—wheat system. The water requirement of sorghum—berseem, sweet basil— matricaria and chilli—garlic cropping systems was 8.0, 19.8 and 31.8% respectively, less than the rice—wheat cropping system. Among the cropping systems evaluated, energy input (27.50 MJ ha⁻¹) and output (314.46 MJ ha⁻¹) were maximum in the rice—wheat system. Energy use efficiency was maximum (11.99) with sweet basil—matricaria followed by sorghum–berseem (11.91). Reclaiming effect of sweet basil— matricaria cropping system on soil properties was higher than the rest of the cropping systems. Sweet basil—matricaria cropping system gave the highest net return (Rs 50,222 ha⁻¹) and benefit: cost ratio (2.74).U.P.Council of Agricultural Researc

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Not AvailableTen multipurpose tree species, Terminalia arjuna, Azadirechta indica, Prosopis juliflora, Pongamia pinnata, Casuarina equisetifolia, Prosopis alba, Acacia nilotica, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Pithecellobium dulce and Cassia siamea, were raised in a monoculture tree cropping system on the sodic soil of Gangetic alluvium in north India (26º 47' N: 80º46' E) for 10 years to evaluate the biomass and bio-energy production. The soil was compact, sodic and impervious to water associated with nutrient deficiency or toxicity. Maximum plant height was recorded with E. tereticornis followed by C. equisetifolia and P. juliflora. A. nilotica performed better than the other species in terms of diameter at breast height (DBH) with a basal area of 13.04 m2 ha-1, followed by P. juliflora and C. equisetifolia. P. juliflora and A. nilotica produced nearly similar biomass of 56.50 and 50.75 Mg ha-1, respectively, at 10 years; whereas, A. indica, P. pinnata, C. siamea and P. alba did not perform well. P. juliflora scored maximum in net biomass production and nutrient demand. Nutrient (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) concentrations were higher in leaf component of P. juliflora. However, in woody components, there was little variation between the species. N removal for production of one ton of wood was lowest in Acacia nilotica, P in T. arjuna, K in P. dulce and Ca and Mg in P. juliflora. P. juliflora gave the highest energy production of 1267.75 GJ∙ha-1 followed by A. nilotica with 1206 GJ∙ha-1 and the lowest of A. indica (520.66 GJ∙ha-1).Not Availabl

Salinity News January-June 2015

Salinity News 2015 (January-June)ICA

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Not AvailableA field study was conducted to find out the suitable agro-forestry systems for a highly alkali soil and their effect on improving the soil properties at Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Lucknow. The soil was poor in organic carbon (OC 0.08%) and available nitrogen (94 kg N ha-1) but high in available phosphorus (25 kg P2O5 ha-1) and potassium (237 kg K2O ha-1). The treatments included T1: Kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca) for 4 years followed by Gutton panic (Panicum maximum) grass (without amendments); T2: Vilayati babul (Prosopis juliflora) as sole tree crop; T3: Desi babul (Acacia nilotica) as sole tree crop; T4: Vilayati babul (Prosopis juliflora) + Kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca) for 4 years followed by berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) for 3 years (without amendments) and T5: Desi babul (Acacia nilotica) + Kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca) for 4 years followed by Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) for 3 years. After 84 months of planting, all the growth parameters including survival per cent, plant height, diameter at breast height (DBH), diameter at stump height (DSH) and lopped biomass of Prosopis juliflora and Acacia nilotica grown in combination with inter crops of grasses were higher as compared to the sole plantation. Plant height was recorded to be 20 and 14% higher in Prosopis juliflora and Acacia nilotica, respectively grown in combination with grasses than the sole plantation of these species. The pH of the surface soil (0-15 cm) with Prosopis juliflora in combination with kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca) for 4 years followed by berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) for 3 years silvipastoral system has reduced to the level of 8.87. However, pH was > 9.0 in case of the remaining treatments.Vilayati babul (Prosopis juliflora) + berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) silvipastoral system gave highest net return (Rs. 15,155 ha-1 yr-1) followed by gutton panic (Panicum maximum) as sole crop (Rs. 7,660 ha-1yr-1) than the sole plantation of Prosopis juliflora (Rs. 5,610 ha-1 yr-1) and Acacia nilotica (Rs. 3,260 ha-1 yr-1),and appeared to be the most suitable and economically viable alternate land use system for alkali soils.Not Availabl