Effect of different Soil Sodicity levels on growth, yield and Na/k ratio in cotton

Abstract

The world agriculture is suffering due to development of salinity and poses a major setback in increasing the yield of cotton. The ability of the plant system to maintain low sodium concentration is a critical component for its tolerance to salt affected conditions. The plant Na/K concentration in the plant was studied to understand the cotton crop for their tolerance to different sodicity levels (Different ESP levels) and to assess its effect on yield. The cotton varieties (SVPR 2 and Surabi) and Bt cotton (RCH -20) was tested in the field experiment under different ESP levels. The yield of cotton varieties and Bt cotton was recorded at different ESP levels. The yield was higher in Bt cotton compared to other two verities and the ESP level of 38-41 is fixed as to get 50% yield. This was mainly exclusion of Na in the cotton leads to the lower level of Na/K ratio in the Bt cotton plants than the varieties tested.