Utilization of high residual sodium carbonate water neutralized with chemical amendments for fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) production

The effect of high residual sodium carbonate (RSC) irrigation water and its neutralization with gypsum/H₂SO₄ on sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] was evaluated in a micro-plot experiment during rainy (kharif) season (May to September 2013) at ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana. The experiment was conducted in randomised block design, consisted of 5 treatments of different RSC levels [RSC-nil (control), RSC-5meq/L, RSC-10meq/L, RSC-10meq/L (neutralized 5meq/L with gypsum), RSC-10meq/L (neutralized 5meq/L with H₂SO₄)] with 4 replications. Increase in concentration of RSC in water from RSC 5 to 10 resulted in reduction in growth parameters like plant height, leaf to stem green biomass, leaf area index, but extent of reduction was lesser, while using RSC water reclaimed with gypsum and sulphuric acid. Neutralization of RSC in irrigation water with gypsum proved a safer and economical option to use high RSC groundwater for irrigation of sorghum for profitable fodder production as compared to sulphuric acid.