Integrated effects of wheat residue and phosphorus application on rice productivity and soil health under salt affected soils

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of crop residue incorporation along with P application on rice production under salt affected soil having pH 8.57, ECe 5.65 (dS/m), SAR 17.38 (mmol/Ly/j and available P (3.9 mg/kg). The study was carried out at MK Farm, Farooqabad, Sheikhupura, Pakistan during Kharif season in 2009. Treatments were arranged using randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were control (Tj), straw incorporation @ 5 tonnes/ha (T2), T2+20 kg/P2O5/ha (T3), T2+40 kg/P2mO5/ha (T4) and T2+60 kg/P2O5/ha (T5). The highest grain yield (4.407 t/ha) was recorded in treatment receiving 5 tonnes wheat straw along with 40 kg P2O5/ha which is 14.6% more than control and the lowest grain yield (3.847 t/ha) was recorded in control. Maximum P (0.37%) and K (0.13%) contents of grain were recorded where wheat straw was applied @ 5 t/ha along with 40 and 60 kg P2O5/ha whereby P content of control was (0.3%). The residual P was 5.7 mg/kg where wheat straw was applied @ 5 t/ha along with 40 and 60 kg P2o5/ha. The residual P in control was 4.3 mg/kg. It can be concluded that incorporation of residue enhanced the availability of P, K and Ca to plant roots. Under saline-sodic/sodic conditions, plant can better cope with salinity in the presence of calcium and K availability.