Exploring the Efficacy of Organic Citrus Formulations for Salinity Amelioration in Contrasting Agro Climatic Regions.  

Khayali Vaidya, Seema B. Sharma^*, Aparna Sharma and Manish Solanki

Department of Earth and Environmental Science, KSKV Kachchh University, Bhuj, Kachchh, Gujarat. India

Corresponding Author E-mail: seemabhargavsharma@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: The world's food supply is currently under threat from saline soils, an issue that is exacerbated by climate change and insufficient rainfall. This study was to find out if introducing an amendment made from citrus peels may lower the salinity of the soil and promote plant development in two distinct agro climatic zones in India. The chosen regions, Zone 13 (which covered the Gujarat Plains and Hills Region) and Zone 1 (which represented the Western Himalayan Region), had varying soil quality and weather. It has been found that the amendment works well in neutral and salted soils to lower soil salinity. In neutral soil (Zone 1), the amendment greatly decreased salinity by 50%, and in saline soil (Zone 13), by 75%. The acidic nature of the amendment effectively neutralized soil salts, hence enhancing the conditions for enhanced nutrient uptake by plant roots. Furthermore, the soil properties were significantly improved by the addition of kitchen garbage. It is expected that increased plant growth and higher agricultural production will result from this improvement in soil quality. Both soil types had reduced soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations, the study also revealed. Overall, the study suggests that adding citrus peels to soil can be a long-term solution to problems with salt. To evaluate the scalability and practical application of this organic amendment for soil development, more investigation and field testing are necessary. Citrus peel amendment has the ability to alleviate salt problems in soil across a range of agro climatic zones. In addition to improving agricultural output, this strategy supports food security and sustainable farming methods.  

KEYWORDS: Agriculture; Agro-climatic regions; Citrus peel; Organic amendments; Soil salinity; Sustainable

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