Abstract
Soil salinity is known to be a significant threat to food security for the increasing population, which is further aggravated under the climate change scenario. Indo-Gangetic plain (IGP) is one of the most productive in the world and is most affected by salinity. To understand the modifications in soil characteristics under different management practices followed to reclaim salinity affected land, the present study was conducted at variously reclaimed saline areas of three districts of Uttar Pradesh situated in IGP. Soil from six sites (electrical conductivity (EC) ranging from 0.89 to 10.28 mS) following different management practices, RJT (Rajatalab, rice-wheat +organic), BBN (Beerbhanpur, rice-wheat +inorganic), MZM (Mirzamurad, rice-mustard +organic), BRP (Baraipur, rice-wheat +organic), DHR (Dharahara, rice-fallow +organic) and SLM (Salempur, rice-wheat +inorganic) were assessed for physical, chemical and biological properties during the vegetative stage and after harvest of crops. Soil quality index (SQI) based on representative parameters obtained by principal component analysis and yield of crops were also calculated at saline and non-saline sites. The SLM site showed highest salinity followed by BRP, DHR, MZM, while BBN and RJT were non-saline. Total organic carbon, total nitrogen, microbial activity, and microbial biomass were low at saline compared to non-saline sites but were higher under organic matter amendment compared to inorganic. Activities of soil enzymes were negatively influenced while β-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase activities were enhanced under higher salinity. Organic amendments were more efficient in improving the soil properties along with SQI at saline soil resulting into a better yield in all crop combinations compared to inorganic amendments.
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The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
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Acknowledgements
Authors are thankful to Head, Department of Botany, BHU and Coordinator, CAS (Center of Advance Study), DST-FIST (Department of Science & Technology, Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure), IOE (Institution of Eminence) and ISLS (Interdisciplinary School of Life Sciences) for the necessary lab facilities and instrumental support. Authors are also thankful to Geotech Engineering Laboratory, Civil Engineering Department, IIT, BHU for providing texture analysis facilities.
Funding
This work was supported by the APN (Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research) project [grant no.: CRRP2016-09MY-Lokupitaiya]. BJ is thankful to UGC (University Grant Commission) for financial support in form of JRF and SRF.
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BJ and SS surveyed the sites and did field study. BJ performed the experiments, Statistical analysis and wrote the manuscript. SS, SBA, EL, and MA edited the manuscript. All the authors read, reviewed, and approved the manuscript.
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Jaiswal, B., Singh, S., Agrawal, S.B. et al. Improvements in Soil Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties at Natural Saline and Non-Saline Sites Under Different Management Practices. Environmental Management 69, 1005–1019 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-022-01612-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-022-01612-z