Managing Saline-Sodic and Alkali Waters for Crop Production

Minhas, Paramjit S. and Qadir, M., "Managing Saline-Sodic and Alkali Waters for Crop Production" in Irrigation Sustainability with Saline and Alkali Waters: Extent, Impacts and Management Guidelines (Singapore: Springer Singapore, 2024), 161-190.

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  • Author Minhas, Paramjit S.
    Qadir, M.
    Chapter Title Managing Saline-Sodic and Alkali Waters for Crop Production
    Book Title Irrigation Sustainability with Saline and Alkali Waters: Extent, Impacts and Management Guidelines
    Publication Date 2024-09-27
    Place of Publication Singapore
    Publisher Springer Singapore
    Start page 161
    End page 190
    Language eng
    Abstract A typical feature of groundwaters is an increase in their sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) as the salinity increases. These waters (saline-sodic/high SAR-saline waters; usually SAR >10) induce sodicity in addition to salinity hazards. Irrigation with waters having residual alkalinity (alkali/sodic waters; residual sodium carbonate, RSC >2.5) continuously depletes soil’s Ca2+ to cause build-up sodicity. Thus, the emergence of transient water-logging and root aeration problems impacts crop growth on these structurally unstable sodic soils. Alkali waters mostly exist in rainfall zones of 550–750 mm where double cropping is a common practice. Sodication rates of soils being irrigated and their steady-state pH and sodicity values are much higher (about 1.8 times) in high water requiring paddy–wheat than that of upland rotations like millet/maize–wheat. In addition to sodicity tolerance of crops, the irrigation water requirements and the agro-climatic conditions define the permissible limits of adj.SAR in irrigation waters. For mitigation of sodicity impacts, alkali irrigation waters have recurring needs for amendments. Thus, time, modes and doses of extraneous amendments like gypsum have been standardised. Amelioration of irrigation water itself through specially designed ‘gypsum beds’ is more efficient. Phyto-remediation to mobilise Ca2+ from calcite via the use of organic materials reduces amendment needs and improves nutrient use efficiency. Opting for cyclic use with fresh water supplies shows better yield potential than blending and has more flexibility in its implementation. Integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilisers, shift to conservation agricultural practices and deep tillage are the other quite effective strategies. These multiple measures should be implemented in an integrated manner for the judicious use of sodic/alkali waters.
    Copyright Holder author(s)
    Copyright Year 2024
    Copyright type All rights reserved
    DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-4102-1_9
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    Created: Sun, 20 Oct 2024, 23:48:33 JST by Haideh Beigi on behalf of UNU INWEH