Performance of Sugarcane in Saline Soil

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. complex hybrid) is an important cash crop of India. It is long duration nutrient exhaustive crop grown extensively in tropical and sub-tropical regions of India and plays a pivotal role in both agricultural and industrial economy of the country. Sugar industries are the most important agro-based industries, generate largest employment potential and play a vital role in the economic development of the nation. Salt affected soils exist across the length and breadth of India. Crops tolerate salinity up to a threshold value, above which yields decrease approximately linearly as salt concentrations increase. Salinity affects plants at all growth stages; however, it may be that crop plants can tolerate salinity at one growth stage but show sensitivity at another stage of the life cycle. The growth, yield attributes, cane yield, juice quality and nutrient uptake by sugarcane crop adversely affected due to salinity. The deleterious effects of salinity on plant growth are associated with low osmotic potential of soil solution (water stress), nutritional imbalance and specific ion effect.