Question

Which one is the best method of reclaimation of the alkaline soil ?

• A. Addition of gypsum to soil only
• B. Addition of gypsum to soil and leaching
• C. leaching only
• D. Providing good drainage system.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Addition of gypsum to soil and leaching

The best method of reclaimation of the alkaline soil is addition of gypsum to soil and leaching.
Leaching

• In this process, the land is flooded with adequate depth of water.
• The alkali salts present in the soil, get dissolved in this water, which percolate down to join the water table or drained away by surface and subsurface drains. This process is known as Leaching.
• The process is repeated till the salts in the top layer of the land are reduced to such an extent that some salt resistant crop can be grown.
• $\text{When sodium carbonate}\left(N{a}_{2}C{O}_3\right)\text{is present in the saline soil, gypsum}\left(CaS{O}_4\right)\text{is generally added to the soil before leaching and thoroughly mixed with water.}$
• $N{a}_{2}C{O}_3\text{reacts with}CaS{O}_4\text{farming}N{a}_{2}S{O}_4\text{which can be leached out.}$

Reclaimation: Land reclaimation is a process by which an uncultivable land is made fit for cultivation.