Coastal Saline Soils of Gujarat (India): Problems, Reclamation Measures and Management Strategies

Abstract

Soil salinization is a serious global concern because it reduces the potential productivity and use of land and water resources. In coastal regions, salinization may lead to degradative changes in the chemical composition of natural water resources, for domestic, agriculture, and industrial sectors, loss of biodiversity, taxonomic replacement by halo-tolerant species, loss of fertile soil, collapse of agricultural and fishery industries, changes in local climatic conditions, and creating health problems, thus affecting many aspects of human life and posing major hindrance to the economic development of the region. Gujarat state shares the longest coastal line in the country, i.e., 1600 km, out of which Kutch and Saurashtra are facing salinity ingress far and wide on the 1125-km-long coastal belt engulfing 779 villages with a population of 1.33 million. To address the severe problem of water and land salinity in the coastal regions, the Gujarat State Government appointed two High-level Committees (HLC 1 and HLC 2) in the 1970s and 1980s. Various measures involving engineering, agriculture, forestry, and social and legal aspects have been suggested as a part of an integrated approach to reduce the water and land salinity problem and improve conditions in the salinity-affected areas. It has become mandatory to develop location-specific programs on water allocation based on soil, climate, water, and crop parameters, with minimal dependence on groundwater abstraction with overall target to increase the water productivity and cropping intensity while simultaneously conserving the ecosystem. In the present paper, aspects related to coastal salinity issues, measures undertaken as per the HLCs, works undertaken by other agencies, and some agro-interventions ideal for coastal saline soils with more emphasis to Gujarat are elaborated.