Sustainable Management of Sodic Soils for Crop Production: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Salt induced land degradation adversely affects the productivity of ~1000 million hectares (M ha) of agricultural land worldwide. Salt-affected soils occupy 6.73 M ha area in India of which ~56% are sodic and the remainder 44% saline. Sodic soils in large parts of Indo-Gangetic plains have naturally formed due to rapid alternate wetting and drying conducive to alkali hydrolysis, sodium saturation and high pH development. Nonetheless, the problem of human-induced secondary soil sodification has considerably increased in the last few decades largely due to irrigation mismanagement, neglect of drainage and continued irrigation with sodic groundwater. Fresh water scarcity, climate change impacts and reduced availability and quality of widely used amendment gypsum may further accentuate the problem in foreseeable future. Yet, the growing food demands and continual shrinkage of prime agricultural lands have necessitated sustainable management of degraded lands in an environmental friendly and socially acceptable manner. This article briefly reviews the progress in sodic soil reclamation and management. Considering the emerging constraints which may adversely impact restoration programmes, the future research needs are suggested.