Validation of Traditional Weed Control Method through Common Salt Application in the Hill Region of Nagaland

Traditionally, common salt (NaCl) is applied to control broadleaved weeds under shifting cultivation in Nagaland. The aim of the present study was to find out whether such practice is harmful to the soil. For this, an experiment was conducted on upland rice with 12 treatments, viz. control, weedy check and different doses of NaCl from 20 to 200 kg ha^-1. Soil samples were collected at several phases of shifting cultivation and analysed for organic carbon, available N, P, K, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity, exchangeable sodium percentage and sodium adsorption ratio. Yield and yield attributing characters were measured and economics was computed. The results revealed that soil organic carbon (SOC) increased after harvest, but decreased after one year. In contrast, available N, P and K decreased during the crop growth and post harvest period. Weedy check followed by an application of 100 kg NaCl ha^-1 realized the highest gross and net returns. It was observed that NaCl did not exert an undesirable influence on pH, SOC and available NPK; however, EC increased for a short time. The results were confirmed by the verification trial. The yield of rice was highest in 100 kg NaCl ha^-1 treatment among the treated plots. Hence, this may be recommended to control weeds under shifting cultivation.