Effect of magnetic treatment on Inland saline water on the growth and yield of rice cultivation in Sivaganga District

Field experiment was conducted by TANUVAS, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kundrakudi, Sivaganga district in farmers’ field with eight treatments five replications with randomized block design. The treatments includes T1 - Magnetized irrigation water with Eciw 4.6 dSm-1, T2 - Unmagnetized water with Eciw 4.6 dSm-1, T3 - Magnetized irrigation water with Eciw 5.7 dSm-1, T4 - Unmagnetized irrigation water with Eciw 5.7 dSm-1, T5 - Magnetized irrigation water with Eciw 7.1dSm-1, T6 - Unmagnetized irrigation water with Eciw 7.1 dSm-1, T7 - Magnetized irrigation water with Eciw 8.3 dSm-1, T8 - Unmagnetized irrigation water with Eciw 8.3 dSm-1. Sivaganga district cover more than 85000 hectares of rice cultivation through semi dry rice cultivation. The blocks of Ilayangudi, Kalayarkovil, Sivagangai and Manamadurai Blocks are identified as the most vulnerable area with high salinity in soil and irrigation water. It is estimated to the tune of 26,000 hectares are not suitable for cultivation with the water available due to high levels of salinity in irrigation water. The farmers in this vulnerable area tend to operate crop cultivation only after northeast monsoon showers. If sufficient precipitation is not expected, the lands meant for cultivation would be kept ideal with no cropping. Based on the overall performance of the treatments magnetically treated water significantly recorded the higher growth, yield attributes of rice cultivation.