Studies on the effect of gypsum on structural indices of soil

Abstract

A field investigation relating to Studies on the Effect of Gypsum on Structural Indices of Soil. was conducted at Agronomy farm, College of Agriculture, Nagpur. The field experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with a seven treatments replicated thrice. Treatments consisted of 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 5 t gypsum per hectare and a control. The samples were taken from (0-30 cm) and (30-60 cm) depth for conducting study. The surface soil of experimental site was slightly alkaline in reaction clayey in texture, medium in organic carbon (6.21 kg-1), low in available nitrogen (206.98 kg), medium in phosphorus (19.23 kg ha-1), high in potassium (503.00 kg ha-1) poor in hydraulic conductivity (1.06 cm ha-1). The CEC of surface and subsurface soil was 52.16 and 53.70 {cmol (p+) kg-1} and Ca/Mg ratio of was 1.30 and 1.21 respectively. Increasing level of gypsum improves physical and chemical properties of soil and higher improvement was found with higher doses of gypsum. However T3 (1.5 t gypsum ha-1) is sufficient to maintain enough electrolyte concentration to increase HC. Application of 5 t gypsum ha-1 improves Mean weight diameter, Aggregate stability and Water stable aggregates. Application of gypsum increases exchangeable Ca2+ and increases Ca/Mg ratio of soil and reduces exchangeable Na+, ESP soil, which have favourable impact on hydraulic conductivity. Increasing level to gypsum also increased the availability of N at higher level.