Plant growth and nutrient uptake of Green gram (Vigna radiata. L) under marine gypsum reclaimed sodic soil as influenced by foliar nutrition

Abstract

Reclamation of sodic soil using marine gypsum with good quality groundwater and cultivation of green gram (Vigna radiata. L) and foliar nutrition was evaluated for its agronomic performance under field conditions. Green gram was raised as a summer irrigated crop with good quality groundwater during the year 2021. The sodic soil reclamation and foliar nutrition treatments comprises are; T 1 -Marine gypsum, T 2 -1 % Monopotassium phosphate (MKP) + 100 ppm Salicylic acid (Foliar spray -FS), T 3 -1 % MKP + 0.5 ppm Brassinosteroid (FS), T 4 -1 % MKP + 100 ppm Salicylic acid + 0.5 ppm Brassinosteroid (FS), T 5 -Marine gypsum +1 % MKP + 100 ppm Salicylic acid (FS), T 6 -Marine gypsum + 1 % MKP + 0.5 ppm Brassinosteroid (FS), T 7 -Marine gypsum + 1 % MKP + 100 ppm Salicylic acid + 0.5 ppm Brassinosteroid (FS), T 8 -Control. The foliar spray was given 30 days after sowing (DAS) & 45 DAS. The treatments were replicated thrice and laid out in randomized complete block design. The results revealed that reclamation of sodic soil using marine gypsum alone recorded a higher dry matter production, crop growth rate, chlorophyll content and nutrient uptake than un-reclaimed soil. Among the foliar nutrition, 1 % MKP + 100 ppm Salicylic acid + 0.5 ppm Brassinosteroid recorded the highest dry matter production, crop growth rate, chlorophyll content and nutrient uptake compared to untreated plot. It is found that soil reclamation followed by foliar application of 1 % MKP + 100 ppm Salicylic acid + 0.5 ppm Brassinosteroid had a higher influence concerning plant dry matter production, crop growth rate, chlorophyll content and nutrient uptake when they were applied separately.