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Effect of gypsum and calcium carbonate on plant yield and chemical composition and calcium availability in a non-saline sodic soil

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Summary

The availability of Ca from different levels of gypsum and calcium carbonate in a non-saline sodic soil has been investigated. Different levels of tagged gypsum (Ca45SO4.2H2O) and calcium carbonate (Ca45CO3) (i.e. 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 per cent of gypsum requirement) were mixed thoroughly in 3.5 Kg of a non-saline alkali soil (ESP, 48.4; ECe, 2.68 millimhos/cm). Dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) — a legume and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) — a cereal were taken as test crops. Increasing levels of gypsum caused a gradual increase in the yield of dry matter, content of Ca and K in the plant tops and Ca:Na and (Ca+Mg):(Na+K) ratios in both the crops. Application of calcium carbonate caused a slight increase in the dry matter yield, content of Ca and Mg and Ca:Na and (Ca+Mg):(Na+K) ratios in barley, however, in case of dhaincha there was no such effect. Gypsum application caused a gradual decrease in the content of Na and P in both the crops. Total uptake of Ca, Mg, K, N and P per pot increased in response to gypsum application. The effect of calcium carbonate application on the total uptake of these elements was much smaller on dhaincha, but in barley there was some increasing trend.

Increasing application of tagged gypsum and calcium carbonate caused a gradual increase in the concentration and per cent contribution of source Ca in both the crops, although, the rate of increase was considerably more in dhaincha. The availability of Ca from applied gypsum was considerably more than that from applied calcium carbonate. Efficiency of dhaincha to utilize Ca from applied sources was considerably more (i.e. about five times) than that of barley

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Author notes

  1. D. R. Bhumbla (Director)

    Present address: Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal (Haryana), India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Soil Science, Haryana Agr. University, Hissar, Haryana, India

    S. R. Poonia & D. R. Bhumbla (Director)

Authors
  1. S. R. Poonia
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  2. D. R. Bhumbla
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Poonia, S.R., Bhumbla, D.R. Effect of gypsum and calcium carbonate on plant yield and chemical composition and calcium availability in a non-saline sodic soil. Plant Soil 38, 71–80 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011218

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011218

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