Reclamation of calcareous soil (IGKV RAIPUR C.G)

1. Reclamation of calcareous soil

2. Reclamations :-
1. Cultural reclamation
2. Water management
3. Chemical reclamation
4. Biological reclamation
1.Cultural reclamation:-
1) Tillage operation :-
O Light calcareous soil develops large number of pore spaces
due to flocculation.
O These type of soils have poor water holding capacity.
Therefore such type of soil needs compaction by plank or
roller to increase the water holding capacity.

3. 2. Mulching :-
O In the initial year when the concentration of soluble
salts is high in the surface soil layers, mulching can
considerably help leach soluble salts reduce ESP and
obtain higher yield of tolerant crops.
3:- Continuous cropping:-
OFallowing encourages upward movement of salts.
OImproves the soil, reduce ESP with time to a gradually
increasing depth.

4. 2. Water management:-
I. Drainage :-
O Collection of part of the rainfall in the cropland to a
depth that will not be harmful to the crop.
O Field studies have sown that up to 15 cm. of storm
rainfall could be stored within the bunded fields
without the affecting rice yields adversely.

5. 3. Biological reclamation
Application of organic manure :-
O Organic matter decomposition and plant root action
also help dissolve the calcium compounds found in
most soils, thus promoting reclamation but this is
relatively a slow process.
4. Chemical reclamation:-
Use of chemical fertilizer :-
O Availability of phosphorus is low in calcareous soil.
O To increase the availability of P the phosphatic fertilizer
should be used in the following manner:

6.  To increase the availability of P the phosphatic
fertilizer should be used in the following manner:
 Phosphatic fertilizer should be used near the roots of
plant.
 Use of phosphatic fertilizer in ball form also increases
its availability.
Some amendments react in the soil :-
1) Gypsum:-
O Gypsum is a white mineral that occure extensively in
natural deposite.
O Gypsum is soluble in water to the extent of about ¼ of
1% and is therefore a direct source of soluble calcium.

7. 2. Calcium chloride :-
• It is a highly soluble salt which supply soluble calcium
directly.
• Its reactions in sodic soil are similar to those of gypsum.
3. Sulphuric acid:-
O It is an oily corrosive liquid and is usually about 95% pure.
O Upon application to soils containing calcium carbonate it
immediately reacts to form calcium sulphate & thus
provides soluble calcium indirectly.

8. 4. Iron sulphate :-
• It is solid granular materials usually have a high
degree of purity and are soluble in water.
• When applied to soils these compounds dissolve in soil
water and hydrolyse to form sulphuric acid.