Effect of Saline Water Irrigation on Chemical Properties and Fertility Status of Soil (original) (raw)

2020, Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research

M aize (Zea mays L.) is highly cross-pollinated species and monoecious crop of Asia, and now a day considered poultry feed industry back bone. Maize is very nutritious fodder and it is the largest resource of livestock feed. Maize can be grown for fodder purpose in all over the Pakistan with extensive climatic range. It is be harvested after 8-10 weeks after sowing (Rashid and Iqbal, 2012). Maize is moderately salt sensitive crop (Maas et al., 1983). It also has significant role for the production of jelly glucose, flakes, energile, and custard in many industries. Now a days, corn is also used in the production of varnishes, ammunition, paints shortening compounds, soaps and many other products (Khan et al., 1999). Maize fodder contains 51.69 % neutral detergent fiber, 40.18 % fodder crude fiber, 28.797 % fodder cellulose, 22.98 % acid detergent fiber and maize seed grains contains 71.97 % starch in grain, 4.85 % oil in grains, 9.74 % protein in grains, and 9.44 % crude fiber (Ali et al., 2014). Weed pervasion, excessive or sometimes no use of fertilizers and other factors are the main reasons due to which yield and growth of maize crop is affected (Khan et al., 2013). Abstract | Decline in agriculture production due to salinity is one of the key problems in many areas around the globe including Pakistan. Around the globe approximately, 800-million-hectare area is salt affected and it is estimated that up to middle of 21 st century, 50 % of the arable land all over the world will be destroyed due to salinization problem. Use of canal water is the only strategy where saline and good quality waters are used in a cyclic manner for leaching down the salts that accumulated during irrigation with saline water. In this manner, salt accumulation does not rise beyond critical limit of the crop. The experiment consisted of 4 treatments replicated four times and randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used to make layout. Treatments were; T1 = canal water, T2 = water of EC 2.0 dS m-1 , T3 = water of EC 3.0 dS m-1 and T4 = water of EC 4.0 dS m-1. Maize was sown as test crop. Pre and post-harvest soil analysis was carried out for different physical and chemical characteristics. Soil samples were collected from all the plots and analyzed for different chemical properties like EC, pH, SAR, Cl, CO 3 , HCO 3 , Ca, Na, Mg, N, P and K. Results of the experiment revealed that use of saline water irrigation impaired different chemical properties of the soil and also had negative impact on fertility status of the soil. All the collected data were subjected to statistical analysis.