Problem of Yellowing of Winter Crops after Heavy Rainfall or Irrigation in Coastal Saline Soil

Crops on heavy textured coastal saline soils of West Bengal (Sunderbans) turn yellow and die after heavy rainfall or flood irrigation. Field experiments conducted with barley indicated that normal ammonium acetate (pH 4.8) soluble Fe and Mn in soil increased due to irrigation. The yield of barley was reduced considerably because of yellowing which was more severe if heavy irrigation was given or there was rainfall at earlier stages of crop growth. The yellowing was not due to deficiency of nitrogen. The damage due to yellowing was less when high dose of phosphate or calcium carbonate was applied. Plants affected with this symptom contained very high concentration of iron, manganese and sulphate in different parts, especially in lower and middle leaves which showed most intense yellowing.