Reclamation of alkali soils by using Rice husk and straw

• Rice husk is fairly resistant to microbial decomposition, it enables to keep highly deteriorated alkali, soils in good physical condition.
• Application of 20 to 30 t/ha rice husk to increase the infiltration and available water content of alkali soil besides increasing the yield of paddy and wheat grown on such a sodic soil.
• Mulching with rice husk on the surface improves the leaching efficiency of ponded water besides increasing the yield of rice in alkali soil, mulching with rice husk is a very effective measure in reclaiming alkali soils.
• If the rice husk is applied at the rate of 2500-8250 kg/ha, it decreases pH, degree of alkalisation, dispersion coefficient and soluble salt content.
• Rice straw can also be used for alkali amelioration but the yield will be moderate in the initial years.
• Repeated application of rice straw lowered the pH and increased the exchangeable calcium.
• It is more effective in improving the aggregation and hydraulic conductivity in non-calcareous saline alkali soil than in calcareous one.

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