Soil, nutrient, and water management

Effects of soil salinity on yield of a rice-rice cropping system in the western delta of Godavari River, India
Ch. Sreenivas, R.A. Raju, and Ch. Konda Reddy, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, A.P. Water Management Project, Network Centre, Undi 534199 Andhra Pradesh E-mail: csvasu@yahoo.com

In spite of extensive studies on the effects of salinity on rice, our understanding of the quantitative effects of salinity on rice yield and the critical thresholds of responses with respect to modern, commonly used cultivars of India is still limited. This study aimed to determine the effects of soil salinity and depth of soil (015 cm and 1530 cm) on kharif and rabi rice yields. The Kalipatnam drainage pilot area (1623N, 8132E) is located in the Godavari western delta near the east coast of peninsular India. Soils are alluvial and adjacent to a salt stream (Upputeru) 9 km from the sea. This situation influences groundwater quality. The water table fluctuates between the soil surface in the monsoon season and 0.9 m from the ground level during summer. The mean annual, summer, and winter temperatures are 26.9 C, 30.1 C, and 23.8 C, respectively, and mean annual rainfall is 853 mm. Soils in the pilot area are saline sodic with an electrical conductivity (ECe) of 416 dS m1 and a pH of 6.1 to 8.3 during summer. The main crop is rice, followed by rice with a fallow period of 2 months. The pilot area receives irrigation water from the Kalipatnam main channel of Godavari western delta with an average ECe of 0.4 dS m1. Irrigation is achieved by flooding and water is allowed to flow from field to field. Water from the fields drains to Upputeru through the Magaleru drain. Crop yields were monitored using 100-m 100-m grids from 48 grid locations included in the 18-ha study area (Fig. 1). For 2007 kharif (wet season), MTU-7029 (Swarna) was grown as a test variety; for the 2006-07 rabi (dry season), MTU-1010 (Cottondorasannalu) was used. Yield in 2-m 2-m sample plots was determined. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for ECe from the same 48 grid points at the 100-m 100-m spacing used for crop-cut data. Linear regression equations were developed between crop yield and soil salinity and regression coefficients were tested for significance.

2012

International Rice Research Notes (0117-4185)

Soil, nutrient, and water management

1,650

330 m
Tidal Lock

Mag aleru Drai n

650 m 480 m
100 m

K li t E i Kalipatnamt Extension Channel 524 m

554

* * *

100 m

* * *

* * *
545 m

* * * *

* * * *

* * * *

* * * *

* * * *

* * * *

* * * *
345 m

360 m

* m 356 * * * * *

10 m

10 m

Upputeru (Salt stream)

Upputeru (Salt stream)

Fig. 1. Grid points for monitoring ECe in the study area.

Paddy yield in 2006-07 rabi was assessed in relation to the soil salinity of both surface soil (015 cm) and subsurface soil (1530 cm) to estimate the effect of soil salinity on yield. Soil salinity of the surface soil ranged from 3.3 dS m1 to 17.8 dS m1, with an average of 8.6 dS m1, whereas subsurface soil salinity ranged from 2.9 dS m1 to 26.0 dS m1, with an average of 8.9 dS m1. Correspondingly, yield ranged from 4.4 t ha1 to 8.9 t ha1, with an average of 6.7 t ha1. Rabi rice yield and surface soil salinity were highly correlated (R2 = 0.51**) (Fig. 2): Y = 0.16x + 7.74 -------------------------------------- (1)

2012

International Rice Research Notes (0117-4185)

Soil, nutrient, and water management

Yield (t ha1) 10 8 6 4 2 0 0

Rabi yield vs surface soil salinity

y = 0.16x + 7.74 R 2 = 0.51

10 ECe (dS m1)

15

20

Fig. 2. Relationship between rabi rice yield and surface soil salinity.

Similarly, a strong negative correlation (R2 = 0.53**) was also noticed (Fig. 3) between rabi rice yield and subsurface soil salinity and its linear relationship is given below: Y = 0.15x + 7.72 --------------- (2) Rabi yield vs subsurface soil salinity

Yield (t ha1) 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 5

y = -0.15x + 7.72 2 R = 0.53

10

15 20 ECe (dS m1)

25

30

Fig. 3. Relationship between rabi rice yield and subsurface soil salinity.

2012

International Rice Research Notes (0117-4185)

Soil, nutrient, and water management

As expected, rabi rice crop yields were negatively correlated with both surface (015 cm) and subsurface (1530 cm) soil salinity. Similarly, the effects of both surface and subsurface soil salinity after 2007 kharif on paddy yields were evaluated. Soil salinity of the surface soil ranged from 1.3 dS m1 to 10.2 dS m1, with an average of 3.7 dS m1, whereas subsurface soil salinity ranged from 1.4 dS m1 to 17.0 dS m1, with an average of 5.4 dS m1. Correspondingly, 2007 kharif yields ranged from 3.2 to 6.4 t ha1, with an average of 4.8 t ha1. Kharif rice yield and surface soil salinity were highly correlated (R2 = 0.61**) (Fig. 4): Y = 0.37x + 6.15 --------------- (3)

Kharif yield vs surface soil salinity Yield (t ha1)

8 6 4 2 0 0 5 10 15
y = 0.37x + 6.15 R 2 = 0.61

ECe (dS m1)

Fig. 4. Relationship between kharif rice yield and surface soil salinity.

Similarly, a negative correlation (R2 = 0.25 *) was observed (Fig. 5) between kharif rice yield and subsurface soil salinity. The linear relationship is given below: Y =0.17x + 5.68 --------------- (4)

2012

International Rice Research Notes (0117-4185)

Soil, nutrient, and water management

Kharif yield vs subsurface soil salinity Yield (t ha ) 8 6 4 2 0 0 5 10 ECe (dS m1)

Fig. 5. Relationship between kharif rice yield and subsurface soil salinity.
1

y = 0.17x + 5.68 R = 0.25

2

15

20

Thus, kharif rice yields were more negatively correlated with surface soil salinity than with subsurface soil salinity. The same yield-reducing salinity effects were noted by Zeng and Shannon (2000). In addition, the present study necessitated the monitoring of both surface and subsurface soil salinity in order to predict the extent of yield loss. Subsoil salinity was more highly correlated for rabi rice (R2 = 0.44**) than for kharif rice (R2 = 0.25*). This could be attributed to less waterlogging conditions in the rabi season than in kharif; there is consequently more deepening of the roots for rabi rice. Bernstein (1974) conducted field experiments with some principal crops to determine the cause of yield reduction (10%, 25%, and 50%) and how much is attributed to salinity stress. Similarly, from the abovementioned regression equations, critical soil salinity values for 10% and 25% yield reduction were computed (see table) for both surface and subsurface soils of the rice-rice cropping system. These equations can be used to predict yield loss caused by soil salinity.

2012

International Rice Research Notes (0117-4185)

Soil, nutrient, and water management

Regression equations and critical soil salinity thresholds for yield reduction in the rice-rice cropping system.
Season Soil depth (cm) Surface (015 cm) Subsurface (1530 cm) Surface (015 cm) Subsurface (1530 cm) Equation Predicted threshold ECe (dS m1) 10% yield loss 25% yield loss 10.9 11.5 5.0 8.2 17.1 18.1 6.9 12.4

Rabi Rabi Kharif Kharif

Y = 0.16x + 7.74 Y = 0.15x + 7.72 Y = 0.37x + 6.15 Y = 0.17x + 5.68

References
Bernstein L. 1974. Crop growth and salinity. In: J. van Schiffgaarde, ed. Drainage for agriculture. Agronomy Monograph No. 17. Madison, WI (USA): American Society of Agronomy. 3954 p. Zeng L, Shannon MC. 2000. Salinity effects on seedling growth and yield components of rice. Crop Sci. 40:996-1003.

2012

International Rice Research Notes (0117-4185)