Treating problem soils

What are problem soils? How manage them?

Problem soils are the soils which can be not used for the cultivation of the crops economically. They require remedial measures to improve their conditions.

They can be grouped as:

- physical nature: eroded soils, sloping lands, or physical constraints

- chemical nature: acidic soil or alkaline soils, saline and saline sodic soils

Physically soil is eroded by the water, air and landslides where the soil particles are moved from the place to another, devoiding them from the vegetation. They can be improved the methods of interception of the water erosion. Farming in the contour lines, mulching, alternating cropping can be helpful in the physical constraints.

For chemical improvement of the soils, leaching the soil with water of the good quality, maintaining the good drainage are required. Adding the organic matter, growing the legumes, cultivation of the salt tolerant crops are recommended.