Abstract

Soil reclamation and cropping system evaluation experiments were conducted during September 2009 to September 2010. To evaluate the best amendments in the sodic soils of Mallasamudram series in Magudanchavadi block of Salem district, Tamil Nadu in two locations (L 1 and L 2 ) representing strongly sodic (pH <9.5) and very strongly sodic (pH >9.5) soils. Soil amendments such as gypsum, ferrogypsum, sugar factory pressmud and distillery spent wash were employed to reclaim the sodic soils. Three cropping systems viz., Rice – cotton – sesbania, Rice – chillies – sesbania and Rice – finger millet – sesbania were tested in the above reclaimed sodic soils and evaluated. Significant positive variations in soil quality parameters were recorded during post reclamation. The distillery spent wash @ 5 lakh litres ha -1 treated plot consequentially reduced the soil pH from 9.42 to 8.25 in L1 and from 9.95 to 8.45 in L 2 as compared to all other amendments and reduced the ESP from 44.0 to 16.2 in L 1 and 70.0 to 22.0 in L 2 respectively. Application of distillery spent wash significantly improved growth, yield attributes, grain and straw yield of first season rice crop. The performance of cotton, chillies and finger millet as second crop after rice in the cropping system was apparent. The rice- finger millet- sesbania system proved better than the other cropping systems.

Keywords: Distillery spent wash, gypsum, ferro gypsum, cropping system and partial reclaimed sodic soils