Sodic Soil Conditions Research Articles

Preliminary Research on Seed Production and Nutrient Content for Certain Quinoa Varieties in a Saline–Sodic Soil

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to compare the potential seed yield of eight quinoa varieties, to explore their mineral composition of seeds and to identify superior varieties in two locations with different soil properties. Compared with neutral soil conditions, seed yield in the marginal (saline–sodic) soil was decreased by 45 %. Under the latter soil conditions seed yield was negatively correlated with crop density, indicating that a considerable yield loss was due to poor and uneven plant density caused by adverse soil properties. Among the varieties, ‘RU–5–PQCIP–DANIDA–UNA’ produced the highest seed yield (>20 dt ha−1) when grown under neutral soil conditions. Under marginal conditions, the above‐mentioned variety and ‘N 407’ produced seed yields up to 10 dt ha−1whereas the rest reached yields of only about 5 dt ha−1. The majority of the varieties accumulated significantly more protein (20 %) in the seeds under saline–sodic soil conditions (lower yielding environment). The varieties originated from South America were superior in accumulating protein in the seeds at both locations. Mineral contents of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) in the seeds were significantly higher in the neutral soil. No differences were found for phosphorous (P), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and boron (B) between the two locations. The South American varieties were again superior in mineral composition. Adaptation of certain quinoa varieties even under marginal environments seems promising for seed production and/or protein and mineral content in the seeds. Agronomic data are needed in a due course, over a higher number of locations and/or various climatic conditions.

Effect of nitrogen levels on growth and yield of rice (SSRC 91216 (TRY 2)) under sodic soil conditions

Field experiments were conducted during Thaladi season (October-January) of 1998-99 and 1999-2000 on sodic tolerant short duration rice variety TRY 2 (SSRC 91216) with five levels of nitrogen (0, 75, 100, 125 and 150 kg ha) to study the optimum level of N required to produce the maximum yield under sodic soil conditions. The results revealed that there was significant increase in plant height, leaf area index, drymatter production, panicle number, filled grains/panicle, straw and grain yields with an increase in the level of N from 0 to 125 kg ha'. Further increase upto 150 kg N ha did not show any significant increase in the growth and yield parameters observed. Application of 125 kg N ha-1 produced the highest grain yield of 5.15 and 5.51 t ha-1 during 1998-99 and 1999- 2000, respectively. Agronomic N use efficiency, nitrogen uptake at various growth stages were found to be maximum at 125 kg N ha'.

Response of grapevines to irrigation-induced saline–sodic soil conditions

The responses of grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.), ungrafted and grafted to Ramsey rootstock, to saline irrigation have been investigated in drip-irrigated trials at Loxton, Dareton and Merbein in the Riverland–Sunraysia region of the southern Murray–Darling Basin. Soil type and climate were similar across the sites and the characteristics of the soils were monitored in relation to salinity treatment. The treatments involved application of defined irrigation water salinities throughout the season at Merbein and Dareton, while at Loxton, a high salinity treatment was applied between flowering and veraison with low salinity being applied in the remainder of the season. Between-site comparisons of the same rootstock or same cultivar in the fifth season of irrigation show that for water of similar salinity (volume weighted electrical conductivity of 1.4–1.6 dS/m), the ion accumulation patterns were not equivalent. Leaf petiole sodium ion (Na+) and chloride ion (Cl–) concentrations in ungrafted Sultana vines at Dareton were 2-fold those at Merbein, which aligned with differences in electrical conductivity of the soil saturation paste extract. Differences between salinity of soil and ion content of leaves at the 2 sites were attributed to different irrigation management with the estimated leaching fraction at Merbein nearly double that at Dareton. The average ECe at Loxton was equivalent to that at Merbein. However, the leaf lamina Cl– in vines grafted to Ramsey rootstock at Loxton was 2-fold that at Merbein and leaf lamina Na+ was 10-fold. Cultivar differences between the 2 sites — Sultana at Merbein and Colombard at Loxton — may explain a small part of the increase in leaf Na+ and most of that in leaf Cl–. However, a far more plausible explanation is that vines at Loxton experienced transient waterlogging which increased their uptake of both Na+ and Cl–, and increased the rate of Na+ uptake relative to that of Cl–. Transient waterlogging was probably caused by a combination of soil sodicity, small excesses in irrigation, and the combination for part of the season of low electrolyte concentration and high sodium adsorption ratio in the soil solution. Under waterlogged conditions, the uptake of Na+ relative to Cl– at Loxton would have been further enhanced by the inherent differences between Loxton and Merbein in the properties of the soil solution. The soil solution at Loxton had a higher Na:Cl ratio.

Performance of sugarcane genotypes grown under sodic soil and water conditions

Performance of sugarcane genotypes grown under sodic soil and water conditions

EFFECT OF SEED TREATMENT WITH PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON BHENDI (Abelmoschus esculentus L.,) GROWN UNDER SODIC SOIL CONDITIONS

Field experiment conducted with seed treatment of plant growth regulators indicated that gibberellic acid at 50 ppm is the most effective treatment for bhendi under sodic soil conditions. This treatment recorded the highest germination, seedling establishment.total DMP. harvest index.number of fruits per plant and yield of fruits. Gibberallic acid at 50 ppm recorded the highest vegetable yield of 15.7 t/ha followed by GA 75 ppm with 14.8t/ha. The control recorded only 8.07 t/ha of yield.

Managing High pH, Calcareous, Saline, and Sodic Soils of the Western Pecan-growing Region

Pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh. K. Koch)] soils in the arid western United States are characteristically high in pH, calcareous, and often saline or sodic. Economic production, when trees are grown in such soils, requires that growers pay particular attention to managing soil chemistry to avoid nutrient deficiencies, toxicities, or water deficits due to soil structural deterioration. Soil-applied acidulents, calcium-containing compounds, and water management are used by growers to manage high pH problems, sodic soil conditions, and salinity.

ANALYSIS OF STABILITY PARAMETERS FOR RICE GROWN IN SODIC SOILS

Twenty five salinity-alkalinity tolerant rice varieties tested under sodic soil conditions over four years indicated presence of considerable genetic variation among genotypes. None of the genotype showed stability for all the traits studied. Genotype 2107 showed stability for five traits and recorded low stable grain yield. Genotype 2114 (SSRC 92217)alone recorded stable grain yield of 3072 kg/ha with average response, suitable for all environments. The genotype 2122 (SSRC 91216) recorded 3036 kg/ha of grain yield with below average response and suitable for unfavourable environment. This entry recorded above average mean for all other parameters but were not stable.

Influence of fuelwood trees on sodic soils

The persistent acute fuelwood shortage problem in India has necessitated having tree plantations on waste lands to obtain renewable energy. Fuelwood production screening trials initiated in 1981 at the Biomass Research Centre in Banthra, India (of the National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India), identified babul, Acacianilotica (L.) Willd. ex Delile, and mesquite, Prosopisjuliflora (Swartz) DC, to be the most promising and suitable leguminous trees in terms of biomass production on sodic sites. A study was carried out to assess soil enrichment due to the growth of these fuelwood trees planted a decade past on sodic soil that had had no other amendments. Results showed preferential nutrient accumulation and greater reduction in soil pH (from 9.5 to 7.9) and exchangeable sodium (from 30 to 8%) at the P. juliflora plantation compared with at the A. nilotica plantation. There was also a reduction in surface soil (0–15 cm) bulk density, but an enhancement in porosity and water holding capacity, making soil more friable. The P. juliflora plantation produced markedly more leaf litter (6.1 t•ha−1•year−1) than the A. nilotica plantation (5.7 t•ha−1•year−1). Both the species had fibrous lateral root systems on the surface in the sodic soil. However, the penetration and spread of roots were almost 2-fold greater in P. juliflora than in A. nilotica. Thus, the potential magnitude of changes in soil properties was related to the distribution of roots and amount of litter falling on the soil surface. Prosopisjuliflora appeared to be better than A. nilotica under adverse sodic soil conditions in establishing an enlarged plant-litter nutrient cycle relationship. This study also provides an assessment of soil amelioration by leguminous trees under short-rotation forestry practices.

Effects of sodium chloride and melibiose on the in vitro growth and sporulation of Frankia strain HFPCcI3 isolated from Casuarina cunninghamiana

Abstract The in vitro growth and sporulation of Frankia isolate HFPCcI3, a nitrogen‐fixing symbiont of Casuarina, was inhibited by both the toxic and osmotic effects of sodium chloride. This was demonstrated by comparing HFPCcI3 halotolerance with its tolerance to metabolically neutral melibiose osmoticum at sodium chloride and melibiose concentrations from 0 to 500 mmol L‐1. The osmotolerance of this strain is similar to that of other Frankia strains, whereas the halotolerance of this strain is greater than that reported for Frankia strains isolated from actinorhizal plants from moist, temperate regions lacking sodic soils. This finding suggests that differential strain‐specific mechanisms are involved in Frankia's ability to tolerate dry versus sodic soil conditions and has important implications for the microbial ecology of soils supporting Casuarina spp.

Crop yields and properties of a sodic soil as influenced by s‐containing amendments under draining and nondraining conditions

Abstract Performance of rice and a subsequent wheat crop along with changes in properties of a sodic soil treated with gypsum, pressmud (sugar factory waste), and pyrite was studied under draining and nondraining conditions in a greenhouse experiment. The highest rice yield was obtained with pressmud applied at a rate of 50 and 75 % gypsum requirement (GR). In wheat the highest yield was produced by pressmud applied at 75% GR, yet it was statistically at par with that produced by gypsum amendment at 50% GR. Pyrite was the least effective in both cases. The magnitude of improvement in the exchangeable sodium percentage revealed that gypsum was the superior and pyrite the most inferior amendment. Draining conditions helped to increase wheat yield and to improve soil properties; these effects decreased in the order of gypsum > pressmud > pyrite. Results suggested that the pressmud could be used for improving sodic soil conditions and crop yields.

Differential Effects of Sodium/Calcium Ratio on Sorghum Genotypes

Plant response to salinity is a function not only of the total salt concentration but also of the Na/Ca ratio in the root medium. Calcium transport to the shoot decreases at high external Na/Ca and, in many gramineous species, Ca concentration in the expanding blades may become deficient. This study was initiated to determine the differential susceptibility of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes ‘NK 265’, ‘NB 9040’, and ‘Hegari’ (PI 34911) to the Na/Ca ratio in solution cultures. Plants were grown in the greenhouse with six Na/Ca ratios at two salinity levels (osmotic potentials = −0.4 and −0.6 MPa.) NK 265 and NB 9040 were sensitive to high Na/Ca molar ratios at both salinity levels (Na/Ca = 34.6 at −0.4 MPa and 52 at −0.6 MPa). Shoot growth was inhibited; blade injury was typical of severe Ca deficiency. In contrast, at −0.4 MPa, Hegari grew best at high substrate Na and the seedlings had no Ca deficiency symptoms. The K:Na selectivity ratios in Hegari shoots were lower than those in either NK 265 or NB 9040 shoots. The tolerance of Hegari to high external Na was attributed to efficient Ca transport to the developing blades. At both salinity levels, low Na/Ca ratio significantly reduced dry matter yield of Hegari shoots. In all three genotypes, shoot Na decreased with decreasing Na/Ca and was preferentially accumulated in the sheaths. The diversity of the sorghum genotypes in their response to external Na/Ca may be utilized by plant breeders to develop a line that is suited to sodic soil conditions.