Environmental and Economic Benefits of Saline‐Sodic Soil Reclamation Using Low‐quality Water and Soil Amendments in Conjunction with a Rice–Wheat Cropping System

Abstract

A combination of appropriate crop rotation(s) and management interventions has the potential to transform saline‐sodic soil and water resources from an environmental burden into an economic asset. We carried out 2‐year field studies in the Indus Basin of Pakistan to evaluate different irrigation and soil management options of using saline‐sodic waters (SSW) and soils for reclamation and for growing salt‐tolerant cultivars of rice (SSRI‐8) and wheat (SIS‐32). These soils have variable levels of salinity and sodicity (ECe 9–44 dS m−1 and SAR 83–319). The treatments on both the sites were the same and consisted of: (1) Irrigation with SSW, (2) Irrigation with freshwater (FW), (3) Soil application of gypsum at 100 % gypsum requirement of soil + SSW (G + SSW), (4) G + one irrigation with SSW and one with FW (G + 1SSW + 1FW), (5) G + two irrigations with SSW and one with FW (G + 2SSW + 1FW), (6) Farm manure at 25 Mg ha−1 each year before rice + one irrigation with SSW and one with FW (FM + 1SSW + 1FW) and (7) FM + two irrigations with SSW and one with FW (FM + 2SSW + 1FW). Rice was grown as the first crop. After harvesting final wheat crop (fourth in sequence), maximum decrease in bulk density and increase in infiltration rate was observed with G + 1SSW + 1FW while FM + 1SSW + 1FW treatment showed higher decrease in pHs and ECe. Significantly the highest decrease in SAR occurred at both sites with G + 1SSW + 1FW. Maximum yields of rice and wheat were generally observed with G + 1SSW + 1FW. The crop yield and economic benefits with treatments showed a positive correlation with that of improvement in soil physical and chemical properties. Overall, the greatest net benefit was obtained from G + 1SSW + 1FW treatment. We also found that the farmers’ management skills were crucial in the overall success in improving crop yields during reclamation of saline‐sodic soils. Based on the results of this study, we propose that SSW could be used to reclaim saline‐sodic soils by using a rice–wheat rotation and a site‐specific combination of soil amendments and water application strategies.

Remediation of salt-affected soil by the addition of organic matter: an investigation into improving glutinous rice productivity

“…Organic matter (OM), including farmyard manure (FYM) and green manure (GM), may function as salt ion binding agents which detoxify the toxic ions, especially Na + and Cl -, as indicated by low EC e in soil treated with OM (Zaka et al, 2003;Hanay et al, 2004;Tejada et al, 2006;Zahid and Niazi, 2006). In the case of rice, remediation of saline paddy fields using OM improved productivity in the reproductive stage (Qadir et al, 2001;Zaka et al, 2003;Amanullah, 2008;Ghafoor et al, 2008;Murtaza et al, 2009). The most serious cases of yield reduction in crops grown in saline paddy fields that have not undergone remediation, are a subsequent effect of toxic ion accumulation in the plant cells, which causes pigment reduction, diminishes chlorophyll a fluorescence and lowers P n .…”

“…There are many reports on rice cultivation which clearly demonstrate the relationship between physiological and morphological changes in reproductive development during seed set, when plants are exposed to salt-affected soil without remediation (Zeng and Shannon, 2000;Zeng et al, 2003;Ali et al, 2004). OM application to saline paddy soil is an effective remediation procedure, in terms of the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil (Mitchell et al, 2000;Hanay et al, 2004;Tejada et al, 2006;Wong et al, 2009), which can be used to enhance the growth and development of rice crops prior to grain harvesting (Ghafoor et al, 2008;Murtaza et al, 2009). …”

Salt priming improved salt tolerance in sweet sorghum by enhancing osmotic resistance and reducing root Na+ uptake

“…5a). In response to oxidative stress, antioxidant system is often stimulated to provide essential protection for plants, and then antioxidant capacity can be used to discriminate salt tolerance among crop varieties (Ashrafi et al 2015;Kiani-Pouya 2015;Neto et al 2006;Sairam et al 2005;Zhang et al 2014). Accordingly, it was reported that salt priming improved antioxidant protection and helped to Fig.…”

“…At present, salinity has threatened much land in the world (Murtaza et al 2009;Rozema and Flowers 2008 on crop growth, and it is feasible to meet the challenge of salinity by improving crop salt tolerance (Munns et al 2006;Schroeder et al 2013;Yan et al 2013). As well known, salt priming can availably improve plant tolerance to salt stress (Amzallag et al 1990;Djanaguiraman et al 2006;Saha et al 2010Saha et al , 2012Tajdoost et al 2007;Tanou et al 2012;Umezawa et al 2000).…”

Effect of poultry manure on the yield and nutriments uptake of potato under saline conditions of arid regions

“…pH, SAR and ESP. In fact, organic manures result a greater adsorption of Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ and K + than Na + which leads to lower soil ESP (Murtaza et al, 2009). Moreover, Qadir et al (2008) and Walker and Bernal (2008) reported that an acceleration of Na + leaching considerably decreases the ESP and EC.…”