Following are the research activities performed at Soil Salinity Research Institute, Pindi Bhattian
Use of Brackish Water
Brackish water of medium quality can successfully by used through cyclic strategy without significant losses in yield and ill effects on soil properties. Research work indicated that brackish and canal water can be used in a cyclic manner; brackish water for rice and canal water for subsequent wheat, brackish water for wheat and canal water for subsequent maize/summer fodders. When the water is highly sodic, it can be used on long term basis by application of gypsum/sulphuric acid/their combination with sesbania green manure. Keeping in view the very limited and irregular supply of canal water, a short cyclic use strategy has also been devised. Three irrigations of tube well water followed by two canal water irrigations proved also useful.
Production Technology for Shaheen Basmati
The production technology for Shaheen Basmati was standardized through research and zonal trials. This variety can be transplanted from July 5 to August 5 while the best time is, around 20th July. The recommended dose of fertilizer is 120-90-70 ha. (N,P2O5 and K2O)
Standardization of Method of Sowing of Various Crops in Salt-affected Soils
Wheat crop cansuccessfully be grown by broadcasting seed, fertilizer and making ridges with ridger. Similarly rice can be grown successfully by transplanting more number of seedlings per hill (3 to 5 seedlings).
Restoration of Soil Physical Properties of Find Texture Saline Sodic Soil
The deteriorated soil physical properties of dense saline sodic soil can be restored by addition of sand or gypsum when coupled with farmyard manure, press mud and sesbania green manure.
Use of MOP Verses SOP
Sulphate of potash (SOP) has a little edge over Muriate of potash (MOP) in rice wheat cropping system under canal and tube-well irrigation.
Response of Wheat to Copper and Boron in Saline Sodic Soil
The deficiency of copper for wheat crop was found which can be cured by application of 2.5 Kg ha-1. Boron application of 1 Kg ha-1 proved useful in saline sodic soil.
Cultivation of Two Rice and One Wheat Crop in Salt Affected Soils
Coarse rice (NIAB-IRRI-9) and Shaheen Basmati followed by wheat is the best crop sequence which ensures rapid reclamation of salt affected soils and production of around 14 t.ha-1 cereals in a year (Coarse rice=6.0 t.ha-1 , Basmati rice=4.0 t.ha-1 and wheat=4.0 t.ha-1).
Effects of Organic Materials
Poultry manure and farm year manure improved rice yield more than press mud, sesbania green manure, wheat straw and eucalyptus leaves in recently reclaimed soils.
Improved Technology for Transplanting of Forest/Fruit Saplings
The effective formulation is making pits 3 feet long, 3 feet wide and 2-3 feet deep alongwith one foot deep furrow, subsequent filling with silt and transplantation of forest/fruit saplings. This technique provides initial escape from the bad effects of salinity / sodicity until plants become more salt tolerant over the period. Very useful results were obtained.