Soil Management and Crop Adaptation in Saline Areas

A significant risk to land productivity is the global problem of soil salinization. Over a hundred countries, encompassing approximately 1125 million ha of land, have been found to have salty soil samples. The detrimental effects of salt on crop yield and soil fertility are making soil salinity a worldwide issue. Many types of rainfall patterns, geomorphology, and meteorology all have an impact on the production of salinized soil. Twenty to thirty percent of irrigated crops are affected by salt, making them all but unviable. In general, salinity leads to an imbalance in plant nutrient intake and the status of minerals in plant tissues, which in turn causes ion toxicity. It also limits development by altering osmosis in short-term stress circumstances due to limited water availability. Furthermore, salinity negatively impacts the biochemical and physiological processes of plants, which eventually reduces agricultural yields. Saline irrigation water raises and maintains the soil’s salinity. Additionally, soil fertility in terms of crop production qualities is significantly impacted negatively by root zone salt. The right management of saline soil is necessary to reduce the dangerous effects. This chapter discusses soil and water salinity, how it affects crop development, growth, and yield, how to deal with salinized soils, and how to improve agricultural plants’ tolerance to salt through management practices.