EFFECTS OF ORGANIC MANURES ON THE RECLAMATION OF SALINE SOILS AND GROWTH OF INDIAN SPINACH (Basella alba)

A pot experiment was conducted to determine the potential of different organic amendments on the reclamation of saline soils and their affect on growth of Indian Spinach (Basella alba) or Puishak (local name) grown on saline soil. Four different treatments viz. control (T0), commercial compost (T1), poultry manure (T2), and combination of compost and poultry manure (T3) were used for this purpose. The experiment revealed a decrease in the pH level from 8.1 to 7.6 and also a decrease in the concentration of electrical conductivity from 7.2 to 4.2 dS/m at the end of experiment. The positive effects of treat­ments followed the order: T3 > T2 > T1 >T0. The most effective amendment in reducing sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) in the experimental soils was treatment T3, where compost and poultry manure were applied together. The yield of biomass was found maximum at T3, the increase being 166% in comparison with T0.