Technology with Reduced Gypsum and Salt Tolerant Varieties

The field experiments were initiated to develop low cost technologies for the resource poor farmers by integration of gypsum and salt tolerant varieties of rice and wheat cropping system. The grain yield of rice and wheat under 25 % plus salt tolerant varieties was at par with 50 GR plus normal cultivars. The cost of technology is likely to be Rs.40, 000/- per ha. The investment on gypsum would be reduced to half (25% GR) when salt tolerant varieties were grown instead of locally available high yielding varieties. The B:C ratio of 1.7 was recorded in 25 GR with salt tolerant varieties of rice and wheat. Time frame for the replacement of salt tolerant varieties with normal high yielding varieties was also worked out and it was established that salt tolerant varieties of rice can be replaced after 4 years. For wheat the replacement of salt tolerant varieties could be after 3 years.