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Development of Computer Software “BSAT”
Saif–ul-Qahhar &
Riaz Ahmed Wahed and Fozia Marjan
A computer soft ware “Bio-Saline Agriculture Technology (BSAT)”
has been developed and being released on 30 years celebration
of NIAB. As a rub in arid and semi-arid land the evaporation
exceeds rainfall.
 In the world, around one bullion hectares cubical land is
affected by soil salinity of varying degree. The south East
Asia, the part of world we live in, shares 87 million hectare
and in Pakistan 6 million hectare of land is affected by
salinity. The salinity may be induced by irrigations, high
water table, and evaporation of run off waters in low lyeing
areas or may be from sediment origin. In all cases, it
deprives humanity from food, rangelands, forests and other
natural useful activities.
Different approaches have been recommended and applied with
limited benefits. The first approach was reclamation of salt
affected soils by acies, gypsum, biowastes, form yard manure,
etc. The second approach was based on engineering solution of
lowering water table, the major cause of salinity in many high
water table areas. But, inspite of funding of billions of
rupees, it did not prove a prefect solution.
 Then came the approach of biological control of soil salinity.
It was liked by low income farming community as it provided
the growth of fodder biomass of salt tolerant plants for
animals grazing followd by gradual improvement of soil
conditions. However it had three basic limitations
1 : it was slow and
2 : the cash crops could not be grown on reclaimed soil in
absence of growth good quality irrigation water
3 : it required a lot of water for plant growth and drainage.
The latest approach is barred on relatively living with
salinity by growing relatively salt tolerant germotypes of
plants. These plants can be directly grown o on saline lands,
even with brackish water irrigation thousands of plants have
been screened out at NIAB, Faisalabad and other research
organizations of the world which show relative tolerance to
soil salinity of varying degree.
This software is based on the foresaid latest approach. The
salt affected lands can directly be grown to plants by
irrigating with brackish water. The more brackish water, if
pH, residual Sodium Carbonate/Bicarbonate(RSC) contents and/or
Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) lies more than permissible
limits can be used by dilution with relatively low salt water
and amendment (for pH/RSC/SAR), becomes a resource for
irrigation.
The Agro-forestry proves to be a good approach for
economically sustainable biological system. The addition of
200-300 grams of cheap Gypsum Powder in the root zone soil of
sapling at the time of plantation provides safe mode during
establishment period.
 The furrow irrigation system is always preferred in case of
brackish water irrigation. The role of Pakistan Atomic Energy
Commission (P.A.E.C.) in providing strategic defense through
Nuclear Technology and strengthening economy by introducing
high yielding, insect/virus resistant varieties of field crops
and work on productive management of salt affected lands is
commendable. The P.A.E.C research work on productive
management of salt affected land by NIAB has been appreciated
world over.
We are extremely thankful to P.A.E.C for providing access to
technical information for the development of this Software.
That is why, this program is being released on the 30th
celebrations of NIAB. This is the Version 1.0 of this Software
and any suggestion of experts will be appreciated for Version
2.0, appearing in near future.
Further informations about this program can be obtained from.
E-mail:Oxford_principal@yahoo.com
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Pakissan.com;
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