Influence of sulphate of potash and partially burnt paddy husk on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) grown in saline soil.

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.