SSC
The Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI) is located in:
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Answer: Option A — Karnal, Haryana
Detailed Solution
The ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI) is located in Karnal, Haryana.
About the CSSRI:
- It was established on 1 March 1969 under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
- It is the main national institute for research on salt-affected soils (saline and sodic/alkaline soils) and the use of poor-quality (saline) water for irrigation.
- It has regional research stations at Bharuch (Gujarat), Canning Town (West Bengal) and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh).
What are salt-affected soils:
Saline soils contain high levels of soluble salts (such as sodium chloride and sodium sulphate), which appear as white crusts on the surface. They are also called "reh", "kallar" or "thur".
Sodic (alkaline) soils contain high levels of sodium and have a high pH; they become hard and do not allow water to pass through easily. They are also called "usar".
They are found mainly in canal-irrigated areas of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, in the coastal areas of Gujarat and West Bengal, and in arid regions.
Causes include over-irrigation, poor drainage, waterlogging, rising groundwater tables, and the use of salty water.
Achievements of the CSSRI:
It developed the "gypsum technology" for reclaiming sodic soils. Gypsum (calcium sulphate) replaces the sodium in the soil with calcium, which improves soil structure.
It developed "sub-surface drainage" technology for reclaiming waterlogged saline soils.
It developed salt-tolerant varieties of crops, such as the "CSR" series of rice (for example, CSR 10, CSR 30 and CSR 36), and salt-tolerant varieties of wheat (KRL series) and mustard.
It promotes agroforestry and the use of saline water for growing suitable crops.
About Karnal:
It is often called the "Rice Bowl of India" because of its high production of Basmati rice.
It has several important ICAR institutes:
- National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI).
- Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR).
- National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).
Why not the other options?
- ✗Hisar has the Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes.
- ✗Bhopal has the Indian Institute of Soil Science.
- ✗Jodhpur has the Central Arid Zone Research Institute.
Quick tip
Remember: Central Soil Salinity Research Institute = Karnal, Haryana (ICAR, 1969; gypsum technology for sodic soils; CSR salt-tolerant rice); Karnal also has NDRI, the wheat and barley institute, and NBAGR.
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This question tests your understanding of Agriculture in India, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
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