Assessment of Soil Salinity and its Impact on Agricultural Productivity in District Khushab, Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66021/Abstract
Salinity of soil is one of the greatest environmental and agricultural problems in arid and semi-arid areas such as District Khushab, Punjab, Pakistan. This research evaluated the geographic areas, intensity and farming implication of the soil salinity and sodicity in twelve representative sites. A series of physico-chemical tests were carried out to assess such parameters as Electrical Conductivity (EC), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP), pH, and organic matter content. It has been noted that the salinity level of more than 60 percent of the sites was moderate to severe, and the EC and SAR were between 2.10 and 9.10 dS/m and 7.41 and 19.72. The close positive relationships (r > 0.90) between EC, Na +, SAR, and ESP demonstrate that sodium is the major cause of salinization. Poor soil productivity is further reduced by alkaline pH and low organic matter (below 1 per cent). Based on irrigation water quality, soil texture, and drainage conditions, there was a spatial variation. Locations that had clay texture and could not manage water possessed the most risk of salinity. The results highlight the necessity to have localized salinity monitoring and site-specific land management approaches such as gypsum application, organic amendments, and salty-tolerant cropping. The study offers a basis of sustainable soil and water management in Khushab, and other agro-ecological zones in Pakistan.
Keywords: Soil salinity, SAR, Sodicity, Soil degradation, Khushab, Pakistan, EC, Agricultural sustainability.
