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Water and Soil Salinity Dynamics and Dry Season Crop Cultivation in Coastal Region of Bangladesh

M. B. HOSSAIN*
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur - 1701, Bangladesh

M. J. KABIR
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur - 1701, Bangladesh

P. K. KUNDU
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur - 1701, Bangladesh

A. B. M. MOSTAFIZUR
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur - 1701, Bangladesh

M. S. YESMIN
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur - 1701, Bangladesh

M. MANIRUZZAMAN
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur - 1701, Bangladesh

J. C. BISHWAS
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur - 1701, Bangladesh

M. MAINUDDIN
CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, ACT - 2601, Australia

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Coastal region has a potentiality of crop intensification through introduction of dry season crops. This study aimed to determine the possibility of dry season crop cultivation through water resources management. Water salinity of two rivers named Jabjapia at Dacope, Khulna and Andharmanik at Amtali, Barguna was monitored during 2017 to 2018. River water was trapped into adjacent canals during mid-December. Salinity of trapped water, field water and soil were recorded weekly. Groundwater depth and salinity were monitored from installed observation well near to field. Salt tolerant rice varieties BRRI dhan67 and BINA dhan10 along with popular BRRI dhan28 and BRRI dhan58 were cultivated. Rabi crops like sunflower, maize, sweet gourd (pumpkin) and water melon were also cultivated. River water salinity remained below 4.0 dS m-1 up to 15th of December in both locations and then rose sharply. So, 10-15 December is the suitable time to trap river water into the canal. Salinity of trapped water remained in permissible limit for irrigation both at Dacope (1.30 to 3.00 dS m-1) and Amtali (1.1 to 2.3 dS m-1) during boro season. Although groundwater salinity at Dacope (2.30 to 3.52 dS m-1) was comparatively less than Amtali (3.12 to 11.7 dS m-1), it was not suggested for irrigation. Observed maximum water salinity in rice field was 3.14 and 2.9 dS m-1 in April at Dacope and Amtali, respectively. BRRI dhan67 and BINA dhan10 gave similar average grain yield of 6.4 and 6.2 t ha-1, respectively at Dacope. Similar yield trend was found at Amtali. Among the tested rabi crops sweet gourd gave the highest maize equivalent yield of 9.67 t ha-1 at Dacope. Since coastal regions have large river and canal network, there is a good prospect to increase cropping intensity by introducing salt tolerant varieties and trapping water having recommended salinity level for irrigation.

Keywords: Boro rice, Rabi crops, River, Salinity, Trapped water

Location: Jabjapia at Dacope, Khulna and Andharmanik at Amtali, Barguna

Start Date: 00-00-2017

End Date: 00-00-2018

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Drought, Soil salinity

Objectives:

A study was undertaken to identify the suitability of freshwater storage and to determine the possibility of dry season cultivation in saline areas of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

Study locations: The study was conducted in a high saline area of Pankhali, Dacope under Khulna districts and comparatively less saline area of Sekandarkhali, Amtali under Barguna district in Bangladesh during 2017 to 2018. Pankhali is located in polder no 31 at 22.63ºN and 89.50ºE whereas Sekandarkhali village is situated at 22.63ºN and 89.50ºE in polder no 43/1. Jabjapia and Andharmanik rivers are passing away near Pankhali and Sekandarkhali village, respectively.

Data collection and analysis: Three points of both Jabjapia and Andharmanik rivers were selected to monitor river water salinity round the year. An adjacent canal to Jabjapia river of about 2.75 km long and average 13 m wide was trapped with water constructing a temporary earthen dam across the canal on 13th December, 2016 and 19th December 2017. On the other hand 4 km long and 10 m wide canal in Amtali sites was trapped during December to store fresh water from river flow to irrigate rabi and boro crops. Water salinity of the selected points was measured by EC meter (Lutron CD-4301). The measurement was taken twice in a week at 9:00 am to 9:30 am on every Sunday and Thursday. Irrigated rice field water salinity was measured at the same date and time. An observation well was installed in one corner of the experimental field within the weather station boundary at Pankhali village of Dacope, Khulna and very near to the experimental field at Sekandarkhali village of Amtali, Barguna to measure groundwater level and salinity. The groundwater level and salinity were measured from shallow aquifer, which may be connected to the canal and river water.

Rice crop trial Boro rice was cultivated using trapped canal water both in Pankhali, Dacope and Amtali during 2016-17 and 2017-18. Two saline tolerant rice varieties BRRI dhan67 and BINA dhan10 were tested along with popular variety BRRI dhan28 in Dacope, Khulna. BRRI dhan67, BRRI dhan58 and BRRI dhan28 were tested in Amtali, Barguna. All the varieties were transplanted in 15-20 January with recommended fertilizer and agronomic management. Irrigation was applied from trapped canal water. During boro, 2016-17 seasons about 0.7 ha land was cultivated after aman rice in Dacope, Khulna. The following year about 3 ha land was cultivated with boro rice with the farmers’ keen interest. In the Amtali site, 2 ha and 4.12 ha lands were cultivated during boro 2016- 17 and 2017-18, respectively.

Non-rice crop trials Four different crops were cultivated in Dacope, Khulna and Amtali, Barguna in two consecutive years to evaluate their performance in saline condition. In both the locations the experiments were carried out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Sunflower, maize, sweet gourd (pumpkin, Curcurbita maxima) and water melon were taken as indicator crops. Dibbling method was followed during establishment of sunflower and maize crops and pit method was used for sweet gourd and water melon. Seeds of sunflower and maize were planted by putting three seeds per pit and after emergence one plant per pit was maintained. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) recommended doses of chemical fertilizers were applied. Pits were made properly for sweet gourd and water melon. Pit to pit and line to line distance was 2.0 m. Manure and basal dose of fertilizers were applied during pit preparation. Seedlings were prepared in the poly-bag and 16-20 days old seedlings were sown in the pit. Necessary intercultural operations were done as when necessary for all crops. Data was recorded as per requirement. Observations were made on 10 randomly selected plants from each plot of all replications. For measuring soil salinity soil was collected at 15 days interval. Total yield was calculated by measuring total fruit weight of a plot. The mean values were subjected to statistical analysis using R computer program.

Source of Information: J. Indian Soc. Coastal Agric. Res. 37(2): 24-31 (2019)

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Funding Source:

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Achievement/Findings:

Freshwater resource development is one of the crucial issues for sustainable crop and soil salinity management in coastal areas of Bangladesh. In both the study locations, river water became saline (> 4.0 dS m-1) after December and as high as 20-25 dS m-1 in April to May. Therefore, surface fresh water was trapped in local canals within December is the only option for dry season crop production. In both the locations, the groundwater level was found in very close to the soil surface, which creates drainage congestions of those locations. In most cases shallow aquifer groundwater salinity was not within the permissible limit and unsuitable for irrigation. Whereas the trapped water salinity remains within permissible limit (< 3.0 dS m-1) round the year, which satisfied irrigation water quality standards in both the locations. BRRI dhan67, BINA dhan10 and BRRI dhan58 showed better yield in each year in both the locations. Soil salinity was higher in Dacope, Khulna than Amtali, Barguna. All the rabi crops (sunflower, maize, sweet gourd and watermelon) showed good yield performance in existing saline stress condition. So, cultivation of salt tolerant crop varieties with trapped less saline water could be a good option to increase cropping intensity in the coastal Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal