Micronutrients Status of Soils Irrigated with High Residual Sodium Carbonate Water

Abstract

Micronutrients are essential for healthy growth of the crops if one or more of these are deficient crops will fail to achieve their optimum yield and the quality. Micronutrients deficiency occur all over the world but type of soils, climate and management practices are the key factors, governing the variations in extent and status. Deficiency and status of micronutrients have been reported in soils of India (Takkar and Randhawa 1978; Rattan and Sharma 2004), and in the arid soils of Rajasthan (Sharma et al. 1985). Micronutrient deficiency in salt affected soils have been reported in different parts of country (Bhumbla and Dhingara 1964) and particularly in arid soils of Rajasthan irrigated with high RSC waters (Joshi 1990 and Mathur et al. 2006). In Jhunjhunun district (Jhunjhunun and Chirawa tehsils) water contain high amount of residual sodium carbonate (RSC). Continuous use of these waters for irrigation under intensive agriculture leads to development of sodicity/salinity and toxicity/deficiency in soils resulted in deterioration of soil properties, reduction in crop yields and quality of the produce and further limits the choice of the crops. Soils irrigated with such waters become hard and compact and some times land is taken out of agricultural purposes. However, this kind of study requires wide attention because a large area in Rajasthan is irrigated with high RSC water. The present investigation was taken up to asses the status of micronutrients in soils irrigated with high RSC water.