Abstract

                                Field experiment was conducted in sodic soil using rice (CO 52) as a test crop with various amendments viz., gypsum+ green manure, green leaf manure and press mud as main-plot treatments and different levels of zinc sulphate viz., 50, 100 and 150 percent of recommended dose as basal with and without foliar spray of ZnSO₄@ 0.5 per cent at panicle initiation (PI) and heading stage as sub-plot treatments. The amendments application significantly reduced the pH, ESP and slight increase in the EC of the post harvest soil. The growth and yield parameters also showed a significant response on reclamation and ZnSO₄ application. The DTPA -Zn content of soil and Zn uptake of plant at various stages were significantly enhanced due to soil reclamation and ZnSO₄ application. Application of gypsum + GM or GLM or press mud can be effectively used as an amendment for the reclamation of sodic soil. However, the gypsum +GM exhibited its superiority over others. Hence, it is recommended that reclamation of sodic soil with gypsum @ 50 % GR + green manure @ 6.25 t ha-1 and ZnSO₄ application @ 100 % recommended dose (25 kg ha-1) along with foliar spray of 0.5 % ZnSO₄ at panicle initiation and heading stages found to be the best for getting higher yield of rice in sodic soils. ZnSO₄ application @ 150 % recommended dose (37.5 kg ha-1) along with foliar spray of ZnSO₄ @ 0.5 % at panicle initiation and heading stages is recommended for unreclaimed sodic soils.

Key words : Gypsum +GM, GLM, Press mud, Sodic soil, Rice crop, Zinc sulphate.