Adopted Reclamation Practices in Pindi Bhattian

Abstract

This research study was assigned by the Pakistan Science Foundation, Islamabad to the Centre of Excellence in water resources Engineering, Lahore in 1987. The Punjab Land Utilization authority (PLUA) Government of the Punjab undertook the development of culturable waste land in Pindi-Bhattian in 1980. In the first phase 50 new tubewells were installed by Authority to provide irrigation water. The tubewells were owned by the farmers. Technical knowhow was also provided to the farmers to develop their culturable waste land. Gypsum and zinc sulphate were provided to some farmers free of cost for demonstration purpose to reclaim salt affected soils. The investigations were undertaken with the following objectives: i) To carry out detail water quality evaluation of tubewells installed by PLUA. ii) To find out rate of development of culturable waste land. iii) To study the role of gypsum application in soil reclamation. iv) To determine the micronutrient status of the project area soils and crops particularly rice and wheat. The data collected during investigations show significant improvement in the development of culturable waste land and increase in crop yields. Culturable waste land decreased from 65 to 28%. The area under cultivation increased from 40 to 63%. The water quality data show that after 5 years of their installation, some are pumping high bicarbonate water which will damage the soil after some time if proper management measures are not adopted. The field surveys and soil reclamation trials carried out at different sites have shown gypsum as an effective amendment for reclaiming Saline-sodic and sodic soils of project area. Micronutrient status of the soils, rice and wheat crop was also determined. Soil and plant samples were analysed for zinc, copper, iron and manganese. The data show that available zinc is deficient in the project area soils and when it was applied to soils, rice yield was increased. The installations of the tubewells in the Pindi-Bhattian area have substantially benefitted the farming community. The introduction of advanced technology has awakened them. Besides, the development of the culturable waste land and increase in crop acreage and yields there has been increase in the livestock and milk production. Physical improvements can be seen in the form of new buildings constructed along the metalled road.