Relevance: GS-III (Disaster Management; Agriculture; Environment)

Context
Seasonal floods in Punjab’s river basins leave behind a patchwork of silt, sand casts, waterlogged pockets and sometimes salinity—hurting yields of paddy, wheat and vegetables.

What floods do to soil

• Nutrient loss: flowing water leaches nitrogen and potassium; topsoil microbes are disturbed.
  
• Sand casting: coarse sand buries the fertile layer; roots struggle to anchor.
  
• Waterlogging and salinity: standing water raises the water table; when it dries, salts crust the surface.
  
• Contamination risk: overflow from drains can add heavy metals and pathogens.
  
• Compaction: machinery on wet fields squeezes soil, lowering air spaces.
  

Fixing the field

• Quick surface drainage and temporary field bunds to move water out.
  
• Spread farmyard manure and compost to rebuild carbon; add green manures like dhaincha.
  
• For sand casts: scrape and heap sand on field edges; mix remaining sand with clay loam using rotavation.
  
• For salinity or sodicity: apply gypsum as per soil test; plant salt-tolerant varieties for one season.
  
• Break compaction with sub-soiling and follow with cover crops.
  
• Use Soil Health Card testing to tailor fertiliser, and claim support under crop insurance and State relief norms.
  

Policy cues to cite

State relief under disaster codes, Soil Health Card, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and river-basin flood moderation projects.

Exam hook – 

Prelims practice
In flood-affected fields, which measure is most appropriate to correct sodicity?
(a) Lime application
(b) Gypsum based on soil test
(c) Elemental sulphur
(d) Wood ash
Answer: (b)

One-line wrap: Drain, de-sand, rebuild organic matter, and treat salts—Punjab shows how to nurse soils back after floods.