Journal ID : AMA-27-05-2022-11409
[This article belongs to Volume - 53, Issue - 06]
Total View : 443

Title : Suitability Evaluation of Degraded Salt Affected Soils for Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Farming: A Case Study of Bhilwara District, Rajasthan

Abstract :

In India, the arable lands are shrinking due to various developmental activities. There is no option other than bringing marginal and/or salt affected lands under cultivation and utilizing them judiciously for salt tolerant horticultural crops. An integrated approach of image interpretation coupled with field studies was followed in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan, to evaluate salt affected soils for pomegranate cultivation, where salt affected soils were scattered and occupied in 10.80% of total geographical area (TGA) of the district. It was comprised of saline, saline-sodic and sodic soils occupying 2.36, 5.67 and 2.79 percent area, respectively of TGA. Based on characteristics of saline and saline-sodic soils, they were assessed as marginally suitable for pomegranate cultivation due to the major limitation of salinity. The sodic soils are marginally suitable for pomegranate cultivation due to the limitation of high pH(pH 8.5 to 9.3) and its subsequent impact on nutrient availability. Limitations of correctable soil properties like pH, salinity or sodicity etc. can be improved after adding some suitable soil amendments and soil class may be upgraded. This will bring them to semi-prime agricultural land in future perspectives. Pomegranate produces fruits throughout the year in India due to suitable climatic conditions. The market of the Indian pomegranates is Europe (mainly Germany), Middle East and Asia. Mainly the products supplied to the markets in the month of December, January and March. In year 2018-19 the total export value of pomegranate was Rs.625.96 Crore, which is considered as a significant step in shining the Indian economy. Still, there is a good scope to increase farmer’s income by bringing marginal/salt affected soils under pomegranate cultivation.

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