EFFECT OF GYPSUM AND FARMYARD MANURE ON SELECTED PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SALINE SODIC SOIL, YIELD AND NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY OF RICE (Oryza sativa L.) AT AMIBARA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract:

Salt affected soils are known to occur in vast areas of the arid and semi arid regions of the world. Reports indicated that nearly 11million hectare of soils in Ethiopia is salt affected and Abundance of soil with saline sodic property in Amibara irrigated farms is becoming a threat to crop productivity. As part of the solution to such problem soils, combine application of gypsum and farmyard manure has not been investigated well in the area. Therefore study was conducted at Werer Agricultural Research Center using rice as a test crop during 2018 cropping season to evaluate ameliorative effects of GYP and FYM on selected physicochemical properties of saline sodic soil and their effect on yield and nitrogen use efficiency of rice .Factorial combinations with three rates of FYM (0, 10 and 20 t ha-1) and five rates of gypsum (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% GR) were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Composite surface soil samples before experiment and from each treatment after harvest were collected for laboratory analysis. Postharvest soil analysis revealed that bulk density, organic carbon, exchangeable sodium percentage, available phosphorous, exchangeable sodium and soluble calcium were significantly (P