Poor-drainage-induced salinization of agricultural lands: Management through structural measures

Abstract

Convenient and sufficient water supply to crops is a necessity for sustainable food production to the rising total populace. Albeit adequate water supply is important for crop production, the surplus water in the rootzone is hurtful to plant development and yield. Poor drainage and associated salinization represent severe threats to the long-term sustainability of irrigated agriculture in several dry areas. Reducing soil submergence, salinity control, and making new land accessible for agriculture are the three main goals of agricultural drainage. Thus, an effective drainage system not only improves the existing agricultural lands but also brings new areas under cultivation. This paper provides an investigation of different structural and engineering measures adopted for the management of drainage and salinization problems of irrigated lands. The overview of drainage and salinization problems and the requirement of a drainage system are presented. Application and limitations of surface drainage system in agricultural areas and the processes involved in the removal of surplus water through subsurface drainage system are provided. The adaptability and limitations of tile drainage, mole drainage, and vertical drainage in managing the drainage and salinization problems of agricultural lands are also detailed in the paper. Finally, policy issues are discussed and some conclusions are provided.