The Growth and Yield Response of Sesbaniato Deficit Irrigation with BrackishWater in the Thar Desert

Water scarcity and land shortages are the principal obstacles contributing to global crop yield reduction.Utilizing low-quality land and brackish water for agriculture emerges as a key solution to meet global food demands.This study aims to explore the growth and yield performance of Sesbania plants under varying percentages of brackish water irrigation (100% brackish (T1), 75% brackish (T2), 50% brackish (T3), and control (T4)) over a four-month open field experiment.Various physiological and growth parameters, including plant height, root length, specific leaf area, chlorophyll content, root-toshoot ratio, above-ground and below-ground biomass, and total yield, were evaluated.Results indicated significant decreases of over 70 to 80% under T1 and T2, while T3 showed a moderate reduction of 20 to 30% compared to T4 in growth parameters and yield.Soil moisture content, temperature, and salinity were monitored monthly from the 0-60 cm soil profile, particularly in the T1 treatment receiving 100% brackish water.Moisture content and salinity increased steadily across all depths, while temperature exhibited spikes in November and December.The findings suggest that Sesbania plants exhibit better growth and yield under T3 treatment, demonstrating their salt and drought tolerance.This underscores their suitability for cultivation in desert environments.Consequently, this research presents an optimal strategy for leveraging desert lands and brackish water resources by cultivating species resilient to salt and drought conditions.