This centre earlier started in 1969 in association with AICRP on Water Management and was transferred to saline scheme in 1980 during VIth Five year plan and started functioning at Agricultural College, C.S. Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) to undertake research on reclamation and management of heavy textured soils of alluvial and black soil regions. The centre is situated in Agro ecological region 4 (Northern plain, hot semi-arid region) and located at The centre is located at 29027’ N Latitude and 80020’ E Longitude.
- Groundwater sampling and analysis for different quality parameters were conducted for Unnao, Kanpur, Fatehpur, Raibareli, Kannauj and Kanpur Dehat district. On the basis of analysis samples were grouped into Good, marginally saline, saline, high SAR-saline, marginally alkali, alkali and highly alkali categories.
- The detailed technology for reclamation of alkali soils, which constitute a major area under salt affected soils, and its utilization in agriculture production, has been developed. The technology would essentially consist of proper bunding and leveling of the land, application of pyrites or gypsum as per requirement and by right method based on soil test, judicious use of fertilizers including zinc, growing of salt tolerant variety of paddy and wheat during kharif and rabi followed with green manuring (dhaincha) in summer. Wheat can be replaced by barley, Egyptain clover during rabi.
- Numbers of technologies of immense utility have developed from studies and it was inferred that application of RSC water passing through 15 cm phospogypsum bed proved by far superior to equivalent amount of gypsum in controlling the effect of bed quality (RSC) water on soil properties and improving productivity of paddy and wheat crop.
- Elite varieties of different important vegetable crops viz. tomato, chilli, brinzal, garlic etc. have been identified and screened out which proved tolerant to different levels of sodicity.
- Experiments concluded shows that the amount of gypsum for reclamation of sodic soil, which was hitherto recommended @ 50 % G.R., could be reduced to half i.e. 25 % G.R. if supplemented with press mud @ 5 t ha-1.
- The enhancement of yield of tomato, cabbage and banana can be enhanced by application of CSR-Bio growth regulator.
- Yield obtained in sodic soil with 90 kg N ha-1 supplemented with G.M. (Dhaincha) or FYM (15 t ha-1) were comparable with inorganic added through urea @ 120 kg or 150 kg ha-1. Studies have clearly revealed usefulness of organic manuring in rice-wheat cropping system in sodic soils.
- On the basis of field study, it is found that crop rotation like rice-wheat-dhaincha, rice-Egyptian clover are better suited crops under alkali soil conditions.
- Identified suitable tree species for alkali land plantations.
- Resource Conservation Technologies are being standardized for alkali soils.
