Performance of Atriplex lentiformis on a salty soil in an arid region of India

A field experiment on Atriplex lentiformis was conducted in the Indian arid region on a salt land having pH 8•9 to 9•3, E.C. 12 to 17 dSm−1 and a thick CaCO3 layer at 40 cm depth. There were five treatments, T1 = Control; T2 = Gypsum (10 t ha−1); T3 = Gypsum +, Drainage; T4 = Replacement of pit soil with good soil + FYM (5 kg plant−1); and T5 = Gypsum + Drainage + FYM + Nitrogen (15 g urea plant−1) + Zn (7 g ZnSO4 plant−1) One year after planting, untreated bushes attained an average height of 98 cm and crown diameter of 114 cm; T5 was the best treatment where the average height and crown diameter was 123 cm and 161 cm respectively; the maximum height and crown diameter in T5 was 180 and 250 cm respectively. Total biomass production in T5 bushes was 2690 kg ha−1 as compared to 419 kg ha−1 in the control. Fresh leaf mass for the T5 treatment was 1568 kg ha−1 and 212 kg ha−1 in the control. Crude protein content of A. lentiformis foliage varied from 112 to 148 g kg−1 DM. Total salt content (Na, K, Ca and Mg) of the foliage varied from 10•23 to 14•08%, sodium being the major constituent (6•82 to 10•2%) Drainage channels caused tremendous improvement in growth. The salt bush flowered 6–7 months after planting and produced viable seeds. Additional watering in summer was necessary for better growth and yield.