Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, 342 003
*Present address: Project Coordinator (Arid Fruits), Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125 004.
Salts accumulated in soils as a result of saline water irrigation (EC 2–7 to 9.0 ds m−1) of ber (Zizyphus miuritiana Lamk.) Cv ‘Gola’ grafted on boradi [Zizyphus nummularia (Burm. f.) Wight & Arn.; syn Z. rotundifolia] planted in microcatch-ment system were effectively leached by runoff and no significant carry over of salts was observed after the rainy season during seven years of study. Under flat bed plantation adequate leaching did not occur even when irrigated with waters of 2.7 ds m-1 EC. Irrigation waters of 2.7 to 9.0 ds m−1 were successfully used for establishment of ber plants. Fruit yield decreased by 10–20 per cent as a result of irrigation with waters of 9.0 ds m−1 EC. However, no adverse effect on fruit size was observed.
