Agronomic performance and nutrient accumulation behaviour in groundnut-cluster bean cropping system as influenced by irrigation water salinity

Abstract

Varied levels of salinity in irrigation water remained a serious issue to shrink agricultural productivity in Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Groundnut, being a prominent crop in this zone, suffered to quite an extent due to induced salinity. In the present study, the authors have simulated a field condition where four different saline water of ECiw of 0.5, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 dS m−1 were used for irrigation in groundnut (rainy/kharif)–cluster bean (summer) rotation. Both the crops were assessed by their respective growth and yield traits. A marked decrease was observed in seedling emergence, plant height, root length and pod yield at highest salinity, ECiw 6.0 dS m−1 whereas the same trend was noticed for plant height, dry weight of plant and final plant stand for cluster bean in the next season. However, pod yield of both the crops did not decrease up to ECiw 2.0 dS m−1. The ionic imbalance in different plant parts is another major impact of salinity. Na showed enhanced accumulation in plant parts where groundnut roots accumulated 42.0 and 75.4 % higher than shoots and kernels, respectively at highest ECiw; while other nutrients (N, P, Ca, K) showed a declining effect with increasing salinity.