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VOL. 1, ISSUE 2 (2025)
Community-based strategies for salinity mitigation in sundarban deltaic soils
Authors
Mushfiqur Rahman-Talukdar
Abstract
Soil salinity poses a
critical threat to agricultural sustainability and livelihood security in the
Sundarban deltaic region, affecting approximately 4.2 million hectares of
coastal land in India and Bangladesh. This study evaluated the effectiveness of
community-based salinity mitigation strategies implemented across 45 villages
in the Indian Sundarban region over a 24-month period. A mixed-methods approach
combining soil analysis, socio-economic surveys, and participatory action
research was employed to assess six primary interventions: rainwater
harvesting, organic amendment application, salt-tolerant crop cultivation,
freshwater pond construction, community-led drainage management, and
bio-drainage through salt-accumulator vegetation. Soil electrical conductivity
(EC) measurements were conducted at three-month intervals across 180 sampling
sites, while household surveys (n=675) documented adoption rates and perceived
efficacy. Results demonstrated significant EC reduction from baseline mean
8.7±2.3 dS/m to 4.2±1.8 dS/m in intervention zones, compared to minimal change
in control areas (8.9±2.4 to 8.5±2.2 dS/m; p<0.001). Organic matter content
increased from 0.8±0.3% to 2.1±0.6% following farmyard manure and green manure
incorporation. Community-managed freshwater ponds reduced dry-season soil
salinity by 35-48% within 500-meter radius zones. Adoption of salt-tolerant
rice varieties alongside bio-drainage systems yielded crop productivity
improvements of 1.8 to 2.4 tonnes/hectare. Socio-economic analysis revealed 73%
household participation in collective mitigation efforts, with women's
self-help groups demonstrating highest engagement levels. Cost-benefit analysis
indicated positive returns within 18-36 months for most interventions. This
research demonstrates that integrated, community-driven approaches provide
viable, sustainable solutions for salinity management in vulnerable deltaic
ecosystems, offering replicable models for similar coastal regions globally
facing climate-induced salinization challenges.
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Pages:25-34
How to cite this article:
Mushfiqur Rahman-Talukdar "Community-based strategies for salinity mitigation in sundarban deltaic soils". World Journal of Environment, Vol 1, Issue 2, 2025, Pages 25-34
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