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Opportunities for Crop Intensification in the Coastal Saline Areas of Bangladesh

Anwar Iqbal
PSO (Soils)
Bangladeh Agricultural Research Council, Farmgate, Dhaka-1215

Indrajit Roy
SSO(Crops)
Bangladeh Agricultural Research Council, Farmgate, Dhaka-1215.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The paper dealt at length the pros and cons of the situation in the selected part of the coastal region and attempted to locate the opportunities that can be exploited to intensify cropping the cropping and thus elevate productivity in the coastal saline areas of Bangladesh. It spells out crop management and varietal improvement strategies, soil and water management practices that forms the basis to overcome the salinity constraint. The paper conveys on optimism on the available options that can go a long ways in increasing agricultural productivity in the coastal saline areas of the country.

Keywords: Crop intensification, Coastal area, Salinity

Location: Khulna, Noakhali, Satkhira, Patuakhalt, Chittagong and Cox'a Bazar districts

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Soil salinity

Objectives:

Review and assessment of the set of opportunities that can be utilized to intensify cropping in the coastal saline areas of Bangladesh

Methodology:

A field survey conducted by BRRI showed that only 18% farmers in Khulna district grow both Aus and Aman paddy, whereas 90% farmers in Feni grow these two crops. Trials conducted by the workers of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) between 1975 and 1988 identified several pulse, oilseed and cereal crops that can be grown as cod and fodder during Rabi season in the saline soils of Noakhali charland. Grasspea and mungbean showed good potential for use as fodder crops. The yield of HYVs of mustard was in the range of 0.17--0.49 t/ha compared to 0.59 t /ha produced by the local variety. Wheat yields ranged, between 1.15 to 1.33 t/ha that suggested the possibility of motivating farmers in growing wheat as a promisingsalt- tolerant crop. A study conducted at the Benerpota farm of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) showed that Kanchan variety of wheat ranked top among non-rice cereals in tolerance to soil salinity followed by barley, millet and cheena. In view of limited water available for irrigation in the dry season and increasing soil salinity as rainfall dwindles towards the end of monsoon. BARI conducted a study on suitability of Rabi crops for growing in saline areas of Satkhira, Patuakhalt, Chittagong and Cox'a Bazar districts. Among the crops, wheat, maize, potato, sunflower, linseed and groundnut performed quite well in low-saline environment of Kaliganj in Satkhira. The yield of wheat varieties ranged form 1.74 t/ha to 2.37 t/ha. In Patuakhali where salinity was mere pronounced wheat yields dropped to 0.52--1.04 t/ha. but the performance of linseed was better.Excess quantities of salt may accumulate in the land surface. in particular in the fallow land during Rabi season by capillary rise and evaporation especially where ground water table is present at shallow depth.Experiments were conducted at Patuakhali and Chtttagong to find the effect of mulch on yield of wheat, maize and cowpea. Rice straw at 10 t/ha was used as mulch. The yield of test crops was consistently higher in much treatment. Soil salinity at 0-15 em depth during crop growth period was also lower in mulch-treated plots. In view of limited good quality irrigation water. the. prospect of using brackish river water as source of irrigation seems to be a promising one. In an experiment conducted at the Benerpota farm of BWDB. it was observed that wheat, barley, millet and cheena can be grown successfully with brackish water that has the electrical conductivity of 5 dS/m. This is usually the salinity level of river water upto mid-February. In fact, most of the rivers in the coastal area have water salinity within the tolerance limit during January -Fabruary period.

Source of Information: The Journal of Noami, Vol:9(1&2), Dec. 1992

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

There exists considerable potential for increasing intensity of cropping in coastal areas of Bangladesh. Although salt-tolerant cultivars are few, there is considerable scope for increasing acreage under modern varieties of rice in high lands in the coastal areas. A number of non-rice Rabi crops have been identified that can be grown after the harvest of T. Arnan rice. Mulching of soil surface, lowering of groundwater table, irrigation with brackish water, rainwater harvesting. Sorjan cropping are some of the management practices that can be exploited to intensify cropping in coastal areas. Some examples of agroforestry practices have been cited to show their potential for amelioration and management of salt-affected soils.

Knowledge Management: Journal