CHARACTERIZATION OF SOIL AND GROUNDWATER FOR SALINITY IN BLACK SOIL REGIONS OF MUDHOL TALUKA

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Date
2014-09
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University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot
Abstract
A soil survey was conducted to characterize soils irrigated with different water sources for their salinity aspects in black soils of Mudhol taluka of Bagalkot district. The quality of canal, stream and groundwater used for irrigations were also studied. The pH of soils ranged from slightly alkaline to high alkalinity and there were no significant differences among soils studied. However, ECe and their respective cations and anions differed significantly among soils after irrigations with different sources. In general, the concentration of ions were observed in the order of lift = lift + borewell > borewell = canal + borewell > dryland soils. Among different cropping systems, their contents were found in the order of sugarcane > ground nut/maize > cereal-pulse systems. The cations in soil- water extract were found in the order of Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ while, the anions were in the order of Cl- > HCO3 - > SO4 2- > CO3 2-. Though, the ECe and cations/anions values in soil- water extracts increased significantly with irrigations the risk of alkalisation was observed in only few samples (spread over less areas). The presence of higher amounts of Ca2+ and Mg2+ reduced the sodification risks with lower SAR and RSC values. The risk of alkalisation was more in dryland soils compared to irrigated soils. Irrigation was practiced using borewell, stream and canal water mostly to grow sugarcane. All the quality parameters of water differed significantly with the type of irrigation water and in general, they were found in the order of stream > borewell > canal water.The distribution of major cations in irrigation water was in the order of Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ while, the anions followed the order of Cl- > HCO3 - > CO3 2 > SO4 2-. Canal water was found suitable for irrigations while, water from streams and borewells showed the risks of salinisation. The risks of sodicity were not observed in stream and borewell water samples due to higher proportion of Ca2+ and Mg2+ in water. Interpretation of soil and water salinity parameters in terms their suitability for different horticultural crops suggested that bean, carrot, onion and radish are likely to perform at 75% of their yields in lift irrigated areas due to higher ECe values. However, beetroot, tomato, pomegranate and other similar tolerant crops can be introduced as alternative crops in sugarcane growing areas in Mudhol taluka.
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