Mahmood Alam Khan, Taj Ali Khan, Muhammad Shahzad Khan, Tariq Usman Saeed, Daulat Khan
The research article evaluates the soil salinity and sodicity levels in the area stuck by water logging and salinity. Soil Sampling was done in the SCARP area of Bannu Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan between December 2010 to March 2011 and tests were performed in Environmental Engineering Lab at Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar Pakistan. For this purpose twenty three sampling points were randomly selected and samplings were made at three different depths ranging from 0-0.25, 0.25-0.5 and 0.5 to 1 meter. Soil samples were analyzed and results were prepared for parameters like Electrical Conductivity of Soil Saturate Extract, Na+, Ca++, Mg++, K+, CO3 --, HCO3 -, Cl-, SAR and RSC. The average value of ECe was 5.69 dS/m which revealed that the soil is saline in nature. The average concentration of Na+, Ca++, Mg++, K+, CO3 --, HCO3 -, Cl-, SAR and RSC were determined as 2.87 meq/l, 0.28 meq/l, 0.08 meq/l, 1.14 meq/l, 0.78 meq/l, 2.25 meq/l, 18.12 meq/l, 8.46 and 2.67 meq/l respectively. The average values of ECe and SAR are 5.69 dS/m and 8.46 respectively. Based on these findings, the soil of the study area is classified as saline. The average RSC value of the soil is 2.67 meq/l. These average RSC values indicate that concentrations of carbonates and bi-carbonates are high, which cause calcium and magnesium to precipitate in the soil. The results suggested that the study area is facing an acute concentration of soluble salts and reclamation measures are needed to bring this area under cultivation. Irrigation water quality analysis, reclamation of soil and provision of proper drainage system are recommended.
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