Can Addition of Organic Manures Mediated Sodicity Toxicity in Mustard Cultivation ?

In India's arid and semiarid regions, soil sodicity is a restraining factor for crop productivity. There is less rainfall in these areas, and the groundwater has a high sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and pH. However, by moderating soil fertility characteristics, these sites have a lot of potential for increasing the mustard yield. For this, a field experiment was conducted with four levels of sodicity water irrigation (6, 10, 20, and 30 SAR) and six levels of nitrogen (composed of different combinations with urea, farm yard manure-FYM, and vermicompost-VC). After harvesting of the crop, soil and plant samples were analyzed for physicochemical properties. Experimental results showed an increasing level of SAR mediating the soil parameters like soil organic carbon, available water content, and also mustard crop yield. Although replacement of N application doses with FYM and VC showed improvement in SOC and available water, it reduced soil pH, EC, SAR, and bulk density. Increasing sodicity levels from 6 to 20 SAR reduced the mustard seed yield by 16.05 q ha−1 to 9.76 q ha−1, whereas 50% RDN through urea and 75% RDN through VC increased the seed yield by 8.28 to 16.27 q ha−1. Such studies have opened the door for sustainable mustard production in high sodicity areas, i.e. western part of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab states by application of nitrogen through organics. It will improve the mustard growers' economic situation and contribute greatly to the country's economic growth in sodic soil areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]