ABSTRACT
Salt affected soils occupy 962.2 m ha globally which accounts for 33% of the arable land. In India 8.373 m ha is affected with salts. Of which 2.359 m ha are alkali soils, 3.829 m ha are saline soils and 2.185 m ha coastal saline soils. Reclamation of these soils provides additional area for food grains production and employment. Plant growth in such soils is affected by high osmotic effects of salts, toxicity of soluble ions like sodium, chlorine and boron and lesser availability of other essential nutrients. Micronutrient deficiencies in saline soils are location specific. Hence soil test based applications may be followed. In rice- barley cropping system application of 10 kg zinc sulphate was found beneficial. Liming is basic for nutrient management in acid soils. Liming increases the availability of nitrogen. Acid forming fertilizers should be avoided. Calcium ammonium nitrate was found better in wheat grown in acid soils.
