Effect of Organic Amendments on the Nutrition and Yield of Wetland Rice and Sodic Soil Reclamation

Effect of organic amendments, viz, greenmanure (Sesbania aculeata), rice husk, wheat straw, greenmanure + rice husk and greenmanure + wheat straw including a control (no amendment) on the reclamation of a sodic soil (pH 10, ESP 76.5) and rice nutrition were evaluated ina pot experiment. Amendments were added at the rate of 10 g kg⁻¹ soil on oven-dry basis. Rice was grown under continuous submerged conditions. With the addition of organic amendments, not only the peaks of CO₂ production and maximum concentrations of extractable Fe, Mn and Zn and other cations occurred earlier, but also their concentrations were significantly higher as compared to the control (no organic amendment). The high concentrations of CO₂ and reduced redox potential (Eh) during crop growth had influenced the pH, ESP, nutrient availability and the accumulation of cations of the soils and were chiefly resposible for better rice growth. Greenmanure + rice husk was better than all other treatments in improving yield and yield components of rice and also nutrient availability of the soil.