DOI: 10.54207/bsmps1000-2002-608z31 ISSN: 0971-9431

Amelioration in Sodic Soil by Planting Albizia lebbeck Benth. and Pithecolobium dulce Benth.

R. Jain, Bajarang Singh, Neeta Srivastava, K. Tripathi, H. Behl
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Management of degraded sodic soils for crop production has not gained enough momentum due to small land holding, high initial inputs and low yield. If such soils are afforested with the compatible species, after few years the surface layer is ameliorated to an extent, which may support many crops/plants well. In this trail, the effect of two species, i.e., A. lebbeck and P. dulce planted on a modest quality of sodic soil, was observed to characterize the role of amelioration. Both the species are leguminous N fixers and are moderately tolerant to sodicity, which are a prerequisite for species selection while planting on sodic wastelands. Though the observations were taken up to 45 cm depth, the significant changes in soil properties were observed to only 15 cm depth. Soil organic C, exchangeable Ca++ and cation exchange capacity (CEC) increased with plant growth; whereas, pH, exchangeable sodium per cent (ESP) and exchangeable Na+ (cmol/kg-1) decreased markedly. Soil amelioration was greater under A. lebbeck stand than that of P. dulce stand corresponding to the growth and biomass produced by the two species. Vertical root penetration and horizontal root spread were also correlated with the soil amelioration. It was concluded that soil amelioration was about 30-40% during nine years from initial years of planting. At this stage many other crops of economic importance can be introduced, which can be cultivated successfully in agroforerstry land use systems.

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