BIOAMELIORATIVE ROLE OF TREE SPECIES IN SALT- AFFECTED VERTISOLS OF INDIA

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Gangavati, Karnataka, India to study the effect of tree species on bioamelioration of saline Vertisols. Six tree species, namely, Casuarina equisetifolia, Acacia nilotica, Dalbergia sissoo, Azardirachta indica, Sesbania grandiflora and Hardwickia binata were chosen for the experiment. Reduction in soil salinity, calcium carbonate and soil soluble sodium, bicarbonate,
chloride, sulphate and sodium adsorption ratio was observed under all the tree species apart from improvement in organic carbon. Tree species such as A. nilotica and, C. equisetifolia with higher biomass production exhibited greater bioamelioration potential in saline Vertisols.