Land Modification Models for Restoring Waterlogged Sodic Soils in Uttar Pradesh - The Innovations, Economics and Financial Viability

Abstract

Canal irrigation in some part of the Indo-Gangetic plain led to twin problems of waterlogging and sodic soil formation. Inadequate drainage and continuous seepage from the canal resulted in a rise in water table (less than one meter) coupled with subsequent upward movement of salts on the surface soil made the land highly alkaline (pH over 9) and unproductive. After realising benets for some years, the negative externalities offset the positive impact which led to crop losses, estimated to the extent of 45 and 62 per cent for rice and wheat yields. Land and water productivity diminished and caused severe loss of livelihoods for the farmers adjacent to the canal area. Efforts to restore such land through conventional methods of gypsum-based reclamation, intercept drainage through perforated pipe lines and eucalyptus bio-drainage belt were not found successful. Finally, the innovative land modication models (LMM) were evolved to harvest and use the seepage water from the canal and demonstrated in the farmers' fields successfully. Land and water quality improved and multiple crops were possible to grow on this degraded land. Economic evaluation in terms of financial feasibility, socio-economic suitability and sustainability of LMM models were assessed. The break-even size of interventions of the models was calculated to be 0.44 ha and 0.38 ha for crop based and fish based systems. The innovative models can be a solution to problems which are techno-economically sustainable, challenged by socio-economic constraints to some extent, which can be addressed through policy initiative, have been suggested.