Productive Utilization of Sodic Water for Aquaculture-led Integrated Farming System: A Case Study

Abstract

In many parts of the country there is sodic groundwater with high residual sodium carbonate (RSC), which is considered unsuitable for agricultural crops and aquaculture purposes. In present investigation a case study was undertaken on farmer’s field utilizing high RSC water in a aquaculture based farming system. A pond of 0.4ha (water area of 0.3ha and 2.0m depth) having sodic water, along with the adjoining 500 m2 nursery pond located in the village Lotani, Kurukshetra District was renovated. A platform of 2.0 m width with an area of 0.1 ha was made along the inner periphery of the pond for growing field crops. Gypsum treatment was given for neutralizing the RSC effect in the pond water. The pond was filled with pumped water from a 50 m deep tube well that had RSC ranging from 2.5-4.1 meq l-1 and also supplemented with rainwater. Normal pond management practices were followed which included application of raw buffalo dung. Pond water was used for irrigation. Gypsum treatment and application of raw buffalo dung in the pond created RSC neutralizing effect. In general, pond water had an electrical conductivity (EC) of 0.4dS m-1, RSC of < 0.8meq l-1 and dissolved oxygen of 4.0-8.2 mg l-1 during fish culture operation. Fish growth in the adopted pond was found to be 625-1150g in 12 months, depending on species of Indian major carps and exotic carps. Fish production was recorded to be at the level of 6000 kg ha-1yr-1. Production of field crop per ha were 1000 kg potato, 400 kg onion, 200 kg maize (bhutta),100 kg garlic, 40 kg pigeon pea and 100 kg turmeric beside considerable quantity of consumable vegetables (cauliflower, chillies, radish, methi, palak, ladies’finger, brinjal, banana) and green fodder from the dyke (inner platform of the pond), during the year of observation. The study demonstrated that sodic water with certain chemical and organic remediation can be used for aquaculture-led integrated farming practices with success.