SOIL SALINITY SURVEY IN RELATION TO PERFORMANCE OF TOMA TO IN SATKHIRA DISTRICT OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to sea level rise. Both water and soil salinity along the coast is increasing with the rise in sea level, destroying normal characteristics of coastal soil and water. A soil survey was conducted in Satkhira district on March to July 2009 and soils samples were collected from 30 sites at 0.5 km distance and 0-50 ern, 50-100 cm and 100-150 ern depth and analyzed to determine the effect of salinity on soil properties. A field experiment was conducted from December 2009 10 March 2010 in Satkhira district to observe the yield performance of eight different tomato varieties for growing under saline area by RCBD with three replications. In the saline soils of Satkhira pH value of the surface horizon was slightly lower (5.37) than those of the subsoil (7.70). Cation exchange capacity (CEC) and organic mailer was medium to high status. nutrient deficiencies of total nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium were quite dominant but sulphur was high (15.0 to 20 mg/IOO kg). Exchangeable sodium. potassium. calcium and magnesi urn were in high level. The dominant water soluble cations were Na '. Ca", Mg'+ and K' and anions CI· and sol. In the field experiment, each tomato varieties showed a special criterion among others. variety BARI Tomato? gave the highest yield (100.33 t/ha) whereas BAR I Tomato I4 showed the highest size (17.0 cm) among others. The highest number of fruits/plant was recorded from BARI Tomato I I (212.33) which was cherry type and the lowest number was recorded from BARI Tomato 4(23.66). So. soil salinity is the most dominant limiting factor in saline regions. especially during the dry season and cropping intensity wi II be increased by adopting proper soil and water management practices with the introduction of salt-tolerant tomato varieties in saline areas.