Improvement of Sodic Soil under Tree Cover

Although slow but definite improvement is brought out in the physico-chemical properties of the salt affected soils by encouraging the growth of vegetation on such lands. The present investigation were undertaken to evaluate the relative efficacy of certain salt tolerant tree species in the extent of soil improvement. The tree species in general were effective in bringing about imrovement in the soil properties as reflected by the changes in physico-chemical characteristics of the soil like bulk density (BD), water holding capacity (WHC), hydraulic conductivity (HC) and pH, Ec, Oc, N and exchangeable cations (Na+ and Ca++). There were, however, Variations among the species for their efficacy in improving the soil properties. Vast stretch of salt affected soils still remin a bane for the society for want of adequate resources to reclaim them with the available technology involving initial heavy investments. The process of degradation, which has been set in due to reckless destruction of vegetation, can be reversed by re-establishment of vegetative cover which brings about slow but definite improvement in such inhospitable soils. This phenomenen has been amply demonstrated by various parameters governing the soil health in the present investigations which show a positive sign of improvement both in terms of physical and chemical properties of the soil. Such soils should, therefore, be brought under sod/tree cover, if not found economical for regular farming, and taken care by the community for posterity.