Dryla"nd Salinity: Soil Processes and Management

Abstract

About 60% of the global food production depends on dryland farming. In dry lands, salt accumulation in the root zone layers is a major constraint to the efficient water use by crops. Dryland salinity aggravates the water shortage problems usually faced by the farming community. Management of salinity in dry lands will revolve around efficient use of water stored in the root zone by crops, which is affected by many soil processes and environmental factors. This essay deals with different types of salinity found in landscapes affected by arid and semi-arid climates, the soil processes leading to salt accumulation, dynamics of soil water influencing the salt effects on plants and options available for management in these regions.