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Salinity Impacts on Experimental Fodder Sorghum Production

J.C. Joardar*
Soil, Water & Environment Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

S.A.A. Razir
Soil, Water & Environment Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

M. Islam
Soil, Water & Environment Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

M. H. Kobir
Soil, Water & Environment Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Field experiment was conducted at research station of Soil, Water & Environment Discipline, Khulna University, during the dry season to see the growth performance of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. cv. Morokoshi) irrigating with saline water. For irrigation, river water (RW) containing EC value of 14.04 dS m^-1 was collected from the Rupsha river, Khulna and mixed with tap water [TW] containing EC value of 0.78 dS m^-1 at three different ratios (3:1, 1:1 and 1:3 v/v). After mixing, water containing five different EC values (0.78, 4.19, 7.18, 10.79 and 14.04 dS m^-1) were obtained and considered as salinity treatment. Harvesting and sampling was done 83 days after transplanting (DAT) by cutting four sorghum plants randomly selected from each plot. Different morphological parameters such as plant height, leaf number, leaf length, leaf width, stem diameter and plant biomass were measured and recorded. Soil samples were also collected from each plot. Under water salinity stress, all the agronomic attributes and plant biomass showed a decreasing tendency with increasing salt concentration in irrigation water but the growth was not harmfully affected at lower levels of salinity. Plant height and biomass was significantly decreased irrigating with water containing salinity 10.79 dS m^-1. After harvest it was found that irrigation with saline water up to 10.79 dS m^-1 did not show any increase of soil salinity. It was probably due to rainfall during the monsoon which was occurred at the later stage of the growing period. So, the fodder sorghum plant might be cultivated in the coastal regions of Bangladesh where fresh water irrigation is limited due to salinity problem as well as might be grown irrigating with saline water up to 10.79 dS m^-1.

Keywords: Biomass, Coastal region, Fodder, Sorghum, Morphology, Salinity.

Location: At the experimental field of Soil, Water and Environment Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Fodder, Soil salinity

Objectives:

The objective of the present study was to see the growth performance of fodder sorghum under irrigation water salt stress.

Methodology:

Description of the site The experiment was carried out at the experimental field of Soil, Water and Environment Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh. The field was medium high land. The location lies in the agro-ecological zones (AEZ) 13, i.e. Ganges Tidal Floodplain. The experimental site is characterized by hot humid subtropical climate with abundant rainfall during monsoon. Growing season The experiment was conducted during the dry season (February–May). Test plant Forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. cv. Morokoshi) was used as the test plant. The sorghum seeds were collected from the Plant Nutrition and Physiology Laboratory, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan. Seed bed preparation A seed bed (1m×1m) was prepared for seed germination and growing seedlings. The seed bed was ploughed and leveled properly by using traditional country spade. Weeds and stubbles were removed from the bed manually. The bed was kept moist through irrigation as and when required. Seed sowing in seed bed Before seed sowing, sorghum seeds were soaked in water for 6h then the seeds were sown on the seed bed by broadcasting method. After seeds sowing due care was taken to ensure no damage by birds and to raise healthy and strong seedling. Proper irrigation was done as and when required. Experimental plot preparation In the present experiment, there were four treatment combinations along with control. So, five experimental plots of equal size (1m×1m) were prepared by ploughing and leveling properly by using traditional country spade. All weeds, stubble, and crop residues were removed manually. During plot preparation the soil was well fertilized by applying chemical fertilizer (NPK) following the fertilizer recommendation guide (FRG, 2012) in Bangladesh. Then the field was made ready for transplanting. Seedling transplantation Fifteen days aged young seedlings were uprooted from the seed bed for transplanting. Before that the seed bed was moistened by the application of water so that the root system was not damaged. There were twelve plants in each plot. Since the experimental plot was small in size, transplantation method was followed to maintain equal space between and within the rows and columns to reduce the spacing effect. Weeding The experimental plot was kept free from weeds. Manual weeding was done on regular interval. Collection of saline water for irrigation The saline water was collected from the Rupsha river situated beside the Khulna city and the bulk water was immediately transported to the field laboratory of Soil, Water and Environment Discipline, Khulna University and stored in plastic container. Natural tide occur in this river and the river water (RW) was collected during high tide. Treatments combination Tap water (TW) containing EC value of 0.78 dS m^-1 was mixed with collected saline RW containing EC value of 14.04 dS m^-1 at three different ratios (3:1, 1:1 and 1:3)to change the salinity levels as different treatments.The table describes that control plants received irrigation water containing 0.78 dS m^-1 of EC. Whereas different salinity treated plants received irrigation water containing 4.19, 7.18. 10.79 and 14.04 dS m^-1 of EC, respectively. Irrigation For seedlings establishment on experimental field normal tap water (0.78 dS m^-1) was used for irrigation when required. Fifteen days after transplanting (DAT), irrigation was done with treated water i.e. saline water and tap water combination according to treatment. For each experimental plot same volume of water was irrigated irrespective to treatment. Harvesting and sampling Harvesting was done 83 days after transplanting. Four plants were selected as sample from each experimental plot through random selection. The selected plants were separated from the plot carefully by cutting the stems 3 cm above the soil surface. Different morphological parameters viz. plant height, leaf number, leaf length, leaf width, and stem diameter, and plant biomass i.e. the fresh weight of the whole plant were measured and recorded. The soil sample was also collected from each plot. Data collection For convenience of agronomic observation on the plant characters data were collected from four randomly selected plants from each of the plots. Data on plant characters were then collected as follows: Plant height (m): Plant height of the harvested plant samples was measured with the help of a meter scale from the ground level to the tip of the uppermost leaf. So, the height of four plant samples from each plot was measured. Leaf number: Leaf number was manually counted. All the leaves in each plant were considered for counting leaf number. Leaf length (cm): Two mature leaves from each plant were selected to measure leaf length. So, total eight leaf length from each plot was measured with the help of a meter scale to measure the leaf length. Leaf width (cm): The leaves that were considered for measuring leaf length were also considered for leaf width measurement and were measured with the help of a meter scale. Stem diameter (cm): The plant samples that were considered for plant height was also selected for the measurement of stem diameter. The circle sphere of the stem was measured at the point of 1m above from the ground with the help of a meter scale. Then the plant diameter was calculated. Plant biomass (kg): After measuring all the agronomic attributes of the plants, the plants were cut into small pieces and fresh weight was weighed with the help of an electric balance. Measurement of electrical conductivity (EC) The electrical conductivity of the soil was measured at a soil: water ratio of 1:5 with the help of EC meter (USDA, 2004) whereas the EC of water sample was measured by using the EC meter after filtering the sample. Statistical analysis The results were expressed as the averages of four replications. The data was subjected to ANOVA using computer built-in statistical software program Minitab16. Differences between means were statistically analyzed following one-way analysis of variance and using Fisher’s one way multiple comparison method (p=0.05). The association between water salinity and plant attributes was statistically tested by linear regression analysis. Graphs were prepared by using computer built-in Microsoft Excel-2010 program.

Source of Information: SAARC J. Agri., 16(1): 145-155 (2018)

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sja.v16i1.37430

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The results of the present study revealed that the growth of the fodder sorghum was harmfully affected by the irrigation water salinity at higher salt concentrations. It was found that the plant height and plant biomass was significantly decreased when the plants were grown irrigating with water containing EC of 10.79 dS m^-1. So, the sorghum plants might be cultivated in the coastal regions of Bangladesh where fresh water is limited due to salinity problem as well as might be grown irrigating with saline water up to 10.79 dSm^-1.Moreover, it was found that the soil irrigating with saline water up to10.79 dSm^-1 did not show any increase of soil salinity after harvest that might be due to heavy rainfall at the later stage of the plant’s growth period during the monsoon. Further study on actual soil salinity with fodder sorghum should be necessary.

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