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.
Millets are important source of food and livelihood in arid and semi-arid ecologies and covers a significant area in these regions due to their strong abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, particularly their capacity to withstand dry conditions. Since, the grains of these crops have better nutritional qualities compared to other cereals, therefore, to ensure nutritional security in the vulnerable regions, millets can be good option to be included as staple food. The continuous application of high analysis chemical fertilizers without organic manures resulted in reduced water holding capacity, emergence of multi-nutrient deficiencies and consequently lower crop yields. Thus, for long-term ecological and economic sustainability in rainfed millet systems, there is a need to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient buffering capacity of soil by integrated nutrient management through increasing the use of organic sources such as farmyard manures (FYM), biocompost, biofertilizers and legumes inclusion in cropping systems. Efficient nutrient management approaches are among key strategies to realize higher yields in rainfed regions. The systematic information is lacking on nutrient management in different millets, particularly on precision nutrient management. Use of cost effective and locally available organic nutrient sources and biofertilizers in combination with chemical fertilizers, not only enhances yield and soil fertility but also improves grain quality.
A study on “spatial distribution of heavy metals content and physico-chemical properties of different soil series of northwestern India†was conducted during 2017-18 in five well established soil series which are under aeolian and upper alluvial plain of Hisar district (Haryana). The 50 surface (0-15cm) soil samples were collected with the help of GPS system (Global Positioning System) and analyzed for physico-chemical properties and availability of heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Cd, Co and Ni). The soil of different soil series of Hisar district were moderately alkaline to strongly alkaline in nature (pH 8.0-8.5), electrical conductivity (EC) ranged from 0.10-0.17 dS m-1 (non saline).The organic carbon content in soil of different soil series was low to medium (0.39-0.51%) and having sandy to sandy clay loam texture with low to moderate CEC (8.64-12.85 cmol kg-1). The calcium carbonate content in soils was < 5 %. The mean of available heavy metals such as Pb, Cr, Cd, Co and Ni ranged from 0.56-1.30, 0.03-0.17, 0.01-0.04, 0.00-0.02 and 0.03-0.16 mg kg-1 respectively, which were found below the permissible limit.
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