Leaching Fraction: An Effective Tool to Mitigate Ill Effects of Brackish Water
Leaching Fraction: An Effective Tool to Mitigate Ill Effects of Brackish Water
Muhammad Zeeshan Manzoor1*, Ghulam Sarwar1, Mukkram Ali Tahir1, Noor-Us-Sabah1, Ayesha Zafar1 and Sher Muhammad2
ABSTRACT
The general response of plants to soil and water salinity depends upon climate, soil characteristics, topography and management strategies. Water, even may be saline, is becoming more precious natural resource. Hence, there should be more crops and jobs per drop while conserving the quality of present terrestrial and groundwater. Saline water has been used for production of fodder and forages in many countries. Managing soil and water salinity under prevailing conditions of Pakistan is very important subject. Use of brackish water increased the salt concentration of soil. Resultantly, the growth of plants and yield becomes at threat. The salt stress is translated into decrease in growth rate and resultantly, biomass production decreases significantly. This reduction is gradual, depending upon increase in salt concentration in the root medium, while each species has a critical threshold value where it was started showing negative response. Leaching fractions may help keeping salt concentration low in the root zone when irrigation water is saline. In this experiment three types of water (canal, EC = 2 and 3 dS m-1) were used as such and with leaching fraction of 10 and 20 %. This experiment was conducted in the field and RCBD design was used to make its layout. All the treatments were replicated four times. Sorghum was used as test crop. Pre and post-harvest soil analysis was carried out for different physical and chemical characteristics. Sorghum biomass, plant height, plant diameter and no of plants/m2 were noted and it was observed from results that leaching fraction technique proved useful to mitigate the ill effects of brackish water. All the collected data were subjected to statistical analysis.
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