Evaluation and Utilisation of Plant Genetic Resources for Salt Affected Soils

Abstract

Reclamation of salt-affected soils, based on soil amendments/drainage measures, is both energy as well as labour intensive and, hence, highly . expensive. In fact, obtaining and maintaining non-saline soil conditions is not economically feasible where either evapo-transpiration demand far exceeds the precipitation or the area is Mghly prone to flooding by brackish water or soil permeability is low or water-table is high and groundwater is· saline. Slow but continuous build-up ofsalinity in the root zone threatens   agriculture in such situations ; successful farmmg under these unfavourable conditions centres around proper choice of salt-tolerant crop varieties visa- vis appropriate management practices. It is also noteworthy that even gypsum-based proven technology for reclamation of alkali soils in the IndoGangetic plains failed to find favour with the farmers until the advent of high-yielding dwarf varieties of rice and wheat made such efforts remunerative. Success ofprojects aimed at increasing productivity of salt-affected soils, and improving socio-economic conditions of marginal farmers owning them, is thus linked to collection, conservation, assessment and utilisation
of salt-tolerant plant genetic resources