FRUIT CULTIVATION IN SALT-AFFECTED SOILS: CONSTRAINTS AND MANAGEMENT OPTIONS

Horticulture is increasingly being seen as a sunrise sector with huge growth potential. In many developing and underdeveloped countries, horticultural crops are being promoted to achieve the intertwined goals of sustainable food and nutritional security, equitable growth and rural prosperity. In the last few decades, India has made rapid strides in the production of horticultural crops. Globally, India is the second largest producer of fruits. Despite huge socioeconomic and environmental benefits, the growth of Indian fruit industry continues to be hampered by different constraints. Low productivity of fruits vis-à-vis other major producers, huge post-harvest losses and negligible presence in global export market are some of the factors hindering India from becoming a leader in the global fruit trade. Majority of the fruit crops are highly sensitive to biotic and abiotic stresses with about three-fourths of the fruit crops listed known to be highly sensitive to salinity and the related soil constraints. As further expansion of area under fruit crops seems possible only in marginal situations, this paper attempts to shed light on the properties of the marginally productive salt-affected soils, mechanisms underpinning salt tolerance and doable interventions for growing fruit crops under saline conditions.ICA