Multi variety green manuring for sodic soil management

Multi variety green manuring for sodic soil management 

Technology Profile 

Organic sources are known to improve the soil conditions and green manuring was a recommended practice  for  problematic  soils.  The  multi  variety green manuring technique,  popularly known as Dhabolkarmethod  for  management of problematic soils, was tested in the selected farmers’ fieldsby providing multi variety green manure seed consisting of 15-20 types of seeds including cereals, pulses, oil seeds, green manures and spices @ 20 kg/ac. Green manure crops were grown for 45 days and incorporated into the soil before puddlingand then rice was  transplanted. 

Context 

Sodicity/alkalinity is a major soil problem in many districts of Telangana and many farmers from different villages of Rangareddy and Nalgonda districts expressed the problem of soil sodicity that is causing yield reduction to an extent of 50-60% than normal yields. Hence, it was felt that management of these sodic soils would be ideal in these villages. Consequently, a field survey was done and most problematic soils were selected for demonstration of the technology under FLDs for four years in four villages of two districts of Telangana.

Empirical Evidences 

Field testing results 

1. The difference between demonstration plot and control plot were very clear where control plot showed nutritional deficiencies due to alkalinity problem  and treated plots were green showing good crop growth.
2. Higher yields were recorded in sodic soils due to improvement in plant population, crop stand, crop growth, more number of tillers and panicles
3. The yield improvement ranged from 16.1 to 31% due to improved practice over control
4. The soil  data  indicated  different  degrees  of  improvement  in  soil  properties  where  the  was reduction in pH and improvement in organic carbon and other nutrients to a greater extent in some fields and there was a little improvement in other fields in a two year period.

                                                Green manure crops                 Control field                      GM added crop               Demonstration plot

Practical Utility/ Scalability 

1. By using this simple technology of growing diverse crops as green manures the soil physical, fertility and biological properties will be improved and increases the yield of rice crop.
2. It converts problem soils into fertile soils.
3. It improves soil health as well as plant health and increases the farmer’s income by increasing the yield.
4. Government can encourage this practice in problem soil areas by providing subsidy for the seed material.