Use of poor quality drainage water for crop production and its impact on soil
2004
Chaudhry, M.R. | Iqbal, M. | Subhani, K.M. (International Waterlogging and Salinity Research Inst., Lahore (Pakistan))
Use of brackish drainage water effluent to augment the short canal supplies for crop production was studied in Fordwah Eastern Sadiqia South (FESS) Bahawalnagar area during the year 1998-99 to 200203. The salt tolerant crop cultivars of wheat and cotton were grown on normal soils using canal/brackish drainage water for irrigation in a farmer's field with his participation. Crops included wheat during Rabi season and cotton during Kharif season and treatments were replicated thrice. The soil samples were taken before sowing and at harvesting of each crop to monitor changes in soil salinity/sodicity. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the long term effect of poor quality irrigation water on crop production, soil properties and to establish suitable cultivation and management practices for economic production. The treatments tested were: irrigation with canal water; irrigation with canal water during Rabi and drainage water during Kharif season; irrigation with drainage water for two years and thereafter irrigation with canal water for one season and irrigation with drainage water for three years + gypsum on crop water requirement (CWR) basis and thereafter irrigation with canal water for one season. Fertilizer was applied at the rate of 120-60- 50 kg N1P2O3 and K2O ha-1 in the form of urea, DAP and sulphate of potash. Rainwater was also counted towards irrigation application. The application of gypsum at the rate of 25% CWR reduced the injurious effects of brackish water considerably and increase in ECe was only 52% against 232% in case of poor quality water and increase was somewhat more in alternate irrigations. However, application of gypsum has reduced the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) of soil. Similarly, gypsum application has helped in reducing the adverse effects of poor quality water on the infiltration rate of soil. The alternate irrigations with canal and drainage water and application of gypsum at the rate of 25% CWR has minimized the adverse effects of poor quality water on wheat and seed cotton yield.
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