PHYSICAL PROBLEMS IN SOILS, IDENTIFY AND TAKE SUGGESTED MEASURES – PAU EXPERTS

LUDHIANA, JUNE 29:-----



Aiming at proper growth of the plants, the farming community needs to identify the physical problems in their soils and make efforts for their scientific management. Whetting the skills of the farmers, Dr C.J. Singh, Head, Department of Soil Science, PAU, emphasized that optimum physical environment can help in making the nutrients available to the plants. Stressing that following the management practices will enable the crops to grow properly; PAU experts dwelt on variety of physical problems of Punjab soils.



Discussing about highly permeable soils, the varsity expert Dr S.S. Kukal divulged, "In Punjab, about 12.7 lakh acre soils are coarse-textured and are commonly referred to as light soils." Found in south-western, north-eastern and bet areas of the state, these soils should be given little slope with laser land leveler toward the other end of the field so that the irrigation water reaches the far end of the field sooner and less water goes out of the zone. Light and frequent irrigations should be given in these soils, said he and added that the crops requiring less water need to be grown in these soils. Talking about slow permeable soils, Dr Kukal told these soils are most suitable for paddy cultivation. He stressed that application of farm yard manure (FYM ) and green manuring should be practiced in these soils and preference should be given to grow water guzzling crops like paddy. Crops like maize and wheat should be grown on raised beds.



Dwelling on salt affected soils, Dr Amanpreet Kaur said that these soils are common in Khaira Majha area of Amritsar, Ropar, Patiala, Sangrur, and some parts of Bathinda and Ferozepur districts of Punjab. Telling that these soils should be strongly bunded after leveling, the expert informed that the use of FYM and press mud also improves these soils. "Mix gypsum in the surface soil as per the soil test report followed by heavy irrigation. This should be followed by green manuring with dhaincha before transplanting rice," suggested Dr Kaur. She advised that for water logged soils, install tile drains at 50-60 cm depth in the soil for drainage of excess water and the use of tubewell water for irrigation should be encouraged in the areas where underground water is of good quality so that the water table may go down.



Dr S.S. Bawa, referring to eroded soils, elaborated that the water eroded soils are common in the sub-mountainous tract of Ropar, Hoshiarpur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar districts, around the banks of the rivers and other ill-managed soils of the state. Agricultural lands having slope steepness between 1-3% should be leveled before the onset of rains to conserve rain water in the fields. On steep lands, the contour bunding and bench terracing should be practiced. Dr Bawa suggested the application of FYM which is beneficial in strengthening the soils structure of wind eroded soils and hence reduces soil detachment. Both the eroded soils, be it water or wind eroded soils, should be kept covered with straw or other crop residues.



Referring to crusting and hard pan soils, PAU experts told that the crust can be weakened by light irrigation and be broken down by hoeing. Chiseling or deep ploughing practiced once in three years helps in breaking or loosening the hard pan.


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