The present study on adoption of soil test recommendations by the farmers was conducted in the year 2015-16 in Chandur Bazar and Bhatkuli tehsils of Amravati district. For this study 100 respondents were selected with the help of random sampling method. The data were collected with the help of structured interview schedule. Collected data were carefully examined, classified quantified and tabulated. Frequencies, mean, standard deviation, correlation of coefficient analysis were employed for interpreting the results. Results obtained after analysis have been summarized as below. The findings of the present investigation indicate that near half 47.00 per cent of the respondents were in old age group and 38.00 per cent respondents were educated upto high school level. More than one third of respondents 35.00 per cent had small land holding upto 1.01-2.00 ha. 33.00 per cent respondents had annual income in between Rs. 50,000 to 1,00,000. Over half 52.00 per cent of the respondents having medium level of extension contact. The 71.00 per cent respondents having no source for irrigation availability. 82.00 per cent respondents were taking seasonal crops. The 59.00 per cent of respondents were having low level of motivation. 41.00 per cent of respondents were having medium level of innovativeness towards adoption of soil test recommendations. 52.00 per cent of the respondents were having medium level of availability of fertilizers. The majority of respondents 48.00 per cent had high understanding about soil test recommendations, only 34.00 and 18.00 per cent of the respondents having medium and low understanding about soil testing, respectively. The most of the respondents 76.00 per cent were having low level of adoption about soil test recommendations, only 19.00 per cent respondents were having medium adoption level and 5.00 per cent respondents were having high level of adoption of soil test recommendations. In the study it was found that education, annual income, extension contact, cropping pattern, motivation, innovativeness, availability of fertilizers and understanding of soil test recommendations were positive and significantly related with adoption at 0.01 level of significance and irrigation availability was positivey and significantly related with adoption at 0.05 level of significance. Age and land holding were found to be non-significantly related with adoption. Lack of knowledge about nutrient management, soil test report not clear to the respondents had major constraints.
SummaryPoor quality of both surface and groundwater is a limiting factor for the irrigation of many black soil areas of the Purna Valley, Maharashtra. The present study is a humble effort to flag some of the concerns of these valley raised by the farmers in Amravati district representing the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Irrigation sources are river, canal and predominantly wells in the study area. Samples of irrigation water and soils were collected and analysed from four tehsils of Amravati district, Vidarbha, Maharashtra to assess the quality of irrigation water and its impact on black soils. Soil samples (Shirala-Amravati, Darapur-Daryapur, Wathoda-Bhatkuli and Temburkheda-Warud) were analysed to study the influence of irrigation water on soil characteristics. It was observed that the water used for irrigation in Shirala soil is in the class C3S2 with sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) value ~12, electrical conductivity (EC) 1.8 dSm -1 and Na + 14.0 mmol c l -1 which increased the EC of soils. The higher concentration of Na + and Mg 2+ ions is responsible for drainage impairment. The irrigation water of Wathoda (C4S1) increased EC values of irrigated soils. The reduced saturated hydraulic conductivity (sHC) in irrigated soils as compared to unirrigated soils is attributed to the higher concentration of sodium. The water used for irrigation in Temburkheda and Darapur are similar in quality (C3S1). The soils of Darapur experienced significant increase in EC as compared to Temburkheda soils. This was also associated with decrease in the values of soil drainage (sHC :0.14-0.17 cmh -1 ) in the Darapur soils. Moreover, exchangeable as well as water soluble Na + , Mg ++ cations and EC also increased in the upper layers of the irrigated soils due to application of poor quality irrigation water. This caused deterioration of the soil quality. With the help of temporal datasets of soils the effect of irrigation water on soil properties was assessed. The soils which were rainfed showed improved condition in terms of several physical and chemical properties; however, the soils when irrigated with poor quality water brought several problems in soils in terms of physical and chemical properties. Immediate measures are necessary in the study area.
In view of earlier reports on the occurrence of saltaffected shrink-swell soils in the Purna valley areas in Amravati district of Maharashtra, the present study was carried out to assess the current nature and extent of soil degradation due to use of irrigation water. Results indicate that the irrigation water used to raise agricultural crops in Amravati, Bhatkuli, Warud and Daryapur tehsils contains enough soluble Na-ions and residual sodium carbonate as the water belongs to C4S2 and C4S1 class of the United States Salinity Laboratory. The anthropogenic activities by introducing irrigation have caused severe drainage problem in the shrink-swell soils of the district, which are highly clayey and smectitic that have inherent low permeability. Only exception is the better drained soils of Warud tehsil, which are endowed with Ca-zeolite that help to ward off the ill effects of irrigation. The study thus suggests that continuing the present anthropogenic activities might render the soils unsuitable for agricultural production in the future. In contrast, the soils which are not irrigated do not suffer from any serious degradation in terms of high exchangeable Na (ESP) and low saturated hydraulic conductivity (sHC), suggesting that it would be prudent to encourage rainfed agriculture in the district under improved management practices.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.