Vol. 10, Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
R Praveena, T Thilagavathi, D Janaki, T Eevera and KG Anitha

Abstract:
A field experiment was carried out during Summer, 2021 at ADAC&RI, Tiruchirappalli to study the effect of foliar application of pyroligneous acid and reclamation of sodic soil using pyroligneous acid treated gypsum with an aim to increase the growth and yield of green gram under sodic soil conditions. The experimental trial comprised of ten treatments replicated thrice in a randomized block design. The treatment details are T₁ - Absolute Control with unprimed seeds, T₂ - Absolute Control with PA primed seeds (1:500), T₃ - Unprimed seeds + 50% GR alone, T₄ - PA primed seeds (1:500) + 50% GR alone, T₅ - PA primed seeds (1:500) + 50% GR treated with PA (1:5), T₆ - PA primed seeds (1:500) + 50% GR treated with PA (1:10), T₇ - T₅ + Foliar Spray with PA (1:300), T₈ - T₆ + Foliar Spray with PA (1:300), T₉ - T₅ + Foliar Spray with PA (1:400), T₁₀ - T₆ + Foliar Spray with PA (1:400). The treatments T₃ to T₁₀ received uniformly the recommended dose of of N, P₂O₅ and K₂O @ 25:50:25 kg/ha respectively. The Gypsum with or without PA was applied @ 50% gypsum requirement (3.2 t ha^-1) calculated for a pH of 8.9. Foliar application of PA at the rate of 1:300 and 1:400 were given at 30 DAS and 45 DAS coinciding with flowering and pod formation stage. A significant difference was observed in the plant height (50.4 cm), leaf area index (3.91), number of pods plant^-1 (38.4), number of grains pod^-1 (12) and DMP (2576 kg ha^-1). The addition of 50% GR treated with PA @ 1:5 and 1:10 ratios resulted in an increase in available nutrients which ultimately enhanced the yield components and yield of green gram. The treatment T₁₀ recorded the highest grain yield of 749 kg ha^-1 followed by T₈ 698 kg ha^-1 which was 34% and 24% increase in yield over application of 50% GR alone (T₃). Therefore, incorporation of gypsum treated PA improved the effectiveness of slowly soluble gypsum in reclaiming sodic soils under garden land conditions which in turn resulted in higher growth and yield of green gram.