Salt ratios respond to saline irrigation and sewage sludge application in pearl millet-wheat rotation

Abstract

Salinity is a limiting factor for crop production in irrigated areas. A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2017-19) using three irrigation treatments, viz. canal water (0.35 dS/m) and saline water (8 and 10 dS/m); and five fertilizer treatments, viz. control, sewage sludge (SS)-5 t/ha, SS (5 t/ha)+50% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), SS (5 t/ha)+75% RDF and 100% RDF, to evaluate the effect of saline water irrigation, organic and inorganic fertilization on salt ratios in pearl millet and wheat crops. However, SS was applied in the Rabi only. As the salinity of irrigation water increased, the salt ratios (Na+/K+ and Cl-/SO4 2) in pearl millet and wheat crops were increased markedly during both years. However, SS (5 t/ha) + 75% RDF recorded the lowest Na+/K+ ratio in pearl millet crop over control, but it was statistically at par with 100% RDF, while in wheat crop, the ratio was decreased considerably under 100% RDF treatment followed by sewage sludge amended treatments. Also, the ratio (Cl-/SO4 2-) in both crops was significantly decreased with sewage sludge incorporation, and the lowest was recorded with SS (5 t/ha) + 75% RDF. From the present study, it is concluded that the SS and inorganic fertilizer application helps in gaining potential of cereals against salt stress by reducing Na+ and Cl- besides increasing potassium and sulphate contents in plants.

Effects of saline water and N levels on eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) fruit yield, water productivity, and nitrogen use efficiency by drip and surface flood irrigation

“…The mean maximum temper-ment for more water to irrigate crops when available resources are scarce, poor quality water is being used in agriculture (Ragab 2005). About 62% of the area of Haryana state is underlain with poor quality water (Anonymous 2019), which has led to the development of soil salinity, deteriorating soil health, and decreasing crop productivity (Ankush et al 2021). To overcome this water scarcity, many countries are adopting the use of poor quality water for irrigation purposes.…”

Characterization and spatial mapping of irrigation water quality and their effects on soil properties in Hathin Block of Palwal district, Haryana

“…The quality of groundwater is of paramount importance for irrigation, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. The water used for irrigation purpose differs greatly in its quality depending upon the concentration of dissolved salts (Ankush et al, 2021). The most important considerations for irrigation quality assessment are the electrical conductivity, total dissolve salts, sodium adsorption ratio and residual sodium carbonate.…”

“…(Gagandeep et al, 2016). Irrigating agricultural crops with low-quality water indiscriminately reduces crop production (Priyanka et al, 2020, Harisha et al, 2022 and deteriorates soil fertility (Ankush et al, 2020) due to osmotic and ion-specific effect (Ankush et al, 2021).…”