By 2025 the salt affected would be around 17 mha against to 6.74 mha today. Pulses are highly susceptible to salts, could it be possible to increase pulse production.
Pulses are more sensitive to salinity than cerals and oilseeds due to accumulation of excess salts that quickens anthocyanin pigmentation in leaves and stems which reduces germination and seedling establishment in pulses. Under suitable agronomic practices like judicious use of fertilizers with balanced sources, efficient use of irrigation water could increase the pulse production in the coming decade. Right friends
Dear Rajanna,
Salinity stress is recognized as major constraint in the production of pulses like mungbean where 50 mM NaCl can cause yield losses ≥70%.Salt stress inflicts considerable adverse effects on plant growth, symbiotic association of nodules and soil rhizobia and finally the nitrogen fixation capacity.
Although considerable improvements in salt tolerance of important crop species have been achieved in the past 2 decades using barley, rice, pearl millet, maize, sorghum, alfalfa, and many grass species, not much progress has been made in pulse crops.
For sustainable pulse production in salt-affected soils in the next decade:
(1) the augmentation for salt tolerance in pulse crops like mungbean should be an increasingly important aspect within a widening number of plant breeding programs.
(2) the development of salt tolerance in pulse crops like mungbean may depend on the gene transfer methods either transgenic approach or wide hybridization. Conventional breeding through wide hybridization is more labour-intensive and time-consuming approach.
Reference: Sehrawat N, Jaiwal PK, Yadav M, Bhat KV, and Sairam RK (2013) Salinity stress restraining mungbean (Vigna radiata) production: Gateway for genetic improvement. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences 6(9): 505-509.
Thank You Dr. Kundu sir for your valuable information. My concern is that as a agronomist how best we can manage the problematic soils for maximizing pulse production. Presently am working on water management in soybean based systems and if possible i will contact you sir.
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