Abstract:
Salinity-induced soil degradation poses a significant challenge for both agriculture system and the
environment. To overcome this issue an attempt was made to ameliorate the saline soil by adding
sulphate of potash (SOP) and partially burnt paddy husk (PBPH). A pot culture experiment was
carried out at Eastern University, Sri Lanka, from July to September 2023 with sulphate of potash
alone and in combination with partially burned paddy husk (PBPH) to restore saline soil and to
enhance cowpea growth in saline soil. The experiment was conducted in a complete randomized
design in a 2x4 factorial arrangement with three replicates. To examine the impacts, various rates
of K2O (0, 43, 86, and 129 kg/ha) form of SOP, PBPH (0, 10 ton/ha), were combined. According to
the findings, combining PBPH with SOP influenced the soil electrical conductivity favorably and
decreased from 8.52±1.02 to 3.63±0.02 dS/m. The treatment combining PBPH with 86 kg/ha of
SOP demonstrated significantly enhanced potassium and phosphorus uptake in amended soil
condition. As 57.218±5.969 and 4.662±0.413 mg/g dry weight, respectively. The results of this
study suggested that, by incorporating partially burned paddy husk with sulphate of potash, soil
electrical conductivity, phosphorus uptake and potassium uptake by cowpea crop in saline soil
can be improved.
