Effect of Soil Salinity on Growth, Yield and Nutrients Uptake of Whole Crop Barley in Newly Reclaimed Land

BACKGROUND: Newly reclaimed land has poor soil environment for crop growth since it is high in salt concentration but low in organic content compared with ordinary soil. It is known that whole-crop-barley can grow better in the soil of relatively high salt concentration than other crops but, the growth is poor at the concentration if higher than certain amount and it is a difficulty to secure productivity. Hence, the level of soil salt concentration suitable for the production of bulky feed in newly reclaimed land has been investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: At Saemanguem reclaimed land, the land for the soil salt concentration electrical conductivity (EC) 0.8, 3.1, 6.5, 11.0 dS/m was selected; and chemical fertilizer (150-100-100kg/ha) was tested; and forage barley 220kg/ha were sown. The soil salt concentration during the cultivation period decreased in the order of harvest season>earing season>sowing season>wintering season, and the salt concentration in harvest season is 1.4-4.2 times higher than that of the sowing season. The higher the salt concentration, the poorer the over ground growth due to poor rooting; especially at EC 11.0 ds/m there was emergence but, it blighted after wintering. The Yield from the soil salt concentration 3.1dS/m and 6.5 dS/m was 68% and 35% from that of the soil salt concentration 0.8 dS/m (8.8 MT/ha) respectively. The proline content in early life stage was more than that of the harvest season, and it increased with salt concentration. The higher salt concentration, the more and MgO content in harvest season; but the higher the salt concentration, the less the content of N, , and CaO. CONCLUSION(S): When the soil salt concentration becomes higher than 3.1 dS/m, the yield becomes poor because there is serious growth inhibition of forage barley both in root part and above aerial part that results in unbalanced absorption of nutrients. Therefore, it is recommended that the salt concentration should be lowered below 3.1 dS/m by underground drainage facilities or irrigating water for the stable production of whole-crop-barley.