Effect of alternating irrigation with sodic and non-sodic waters on soil properties and sunflower yield

• Published in: Agricultural water management Vol. 85; no. 1; pp. 151 - 156
• Main Authors: Choudhary, O.P., Ghuman, B.S., Josan, A.S., Bajwa, M.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 16-09-2006; Elsevier Science; Elsevier
• Series: Agricultural Water Management
• Subjects: Achene yield; Agricultural and forest climatology and meteorology. Irrigation. Drainage; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; crop yield; electrical conductivity; ESP; exchangeable sodium; field experimentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Helianthus; Helianthus annuus; infiltration (hydrology); irrigation water; Irrigation. Drainage; sandy loam soils; Sodic water; sodicity; sodium carbonate; soil chemical properties; Soil pH; Sunflower; water quality; India; Asia; Punjab State; South Asia; Soil pH; Sodic water; ESP; Sunflower; Achene yield; Irrigation; Cultivated soil; Water resource management; Fresh water; Water conservation; Soil quality; Irrigation water; Compositae; Dry fruit; Soil conservation; Tropical soil; Semi arid zone; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Water engineering; pH; Sodium carbonate; Soil interaction; Chemical properties; Water resources; Sandy loam soil; Subtropical zone; Alternance; Property of soil; Mineral soils; Brackish water; Hydrochemistry; Helianthus annuus; Water quality; Achene; Exchangeable sodium percentage; Spermatophyta; Yield; Inceptisols; Oil plant (vegetal); Physicochemical properties
• ISSN: 0378-3774; 1873-2283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2006.03.017

Sunflower (
Helianthus annuus L.) is moderately tolerant to soil salinity but its response to sodic irrigation is not well known. A long-term field experiment (1996–1997 to 2001–2002) was conducted on a normal sandy loam (Typic Ustochrept) soil to study the effect of alternating sodic water and good quality canal water on soil properties and sunflower yield. Irrigation treatments were: irrigation with canal water (CW), irrigation with sodic water (SW) having residual sodium carbonate of 10
mmol
c
L
−1, one or two CW irrigation(s) alternating with one or two SW in different combinations (CW:SW, CW:2SW, 2CW:SW, SW:CW, SW:2CW, 2SW:CW). Sustained use of sodic water over 6 years increased pH and ESP of the soil and decreased final infiltration rate and achene yield of sunflower. The build-up of sodium in the soil depended upon the number of sodic irrigations given in a cyclic treatment during the season. The yield of sunflower was adequately explained (84% variation) by the build-up of Na as a consequence of using canal and sodic water in a cyclic mode. Irrespective of the rotation order, achene yield achieved in treatments involving 1CW or 2CW with 1SW (2CW:SW, CW:SW, SW:CW, SW:2CW) was about 90% (85–92%) of that obtained under CW treatment. During most of the years, the sunflower yield did not improve significantly over SW alone treatment when irrigation cycle involved two SW irrigations with one CW (CW:2SW, 2SW:CW). Alternating sodic water with canal water could, therefore, be considered in moderation as a practical way to grow sunflower in areas having sodic ground water. The sunflower can be grown reasonably well even with pre-sowing irrigation with sodic water when canal water supplies are not available at the time of sowing.