Salinity Problems in Groundwater and Management Strategies in Arid and Semi‐arid Regions

Abstract

Salinity is a global environmental issue nowadays particularly in arid and semiarid climates and coastal areas, which are induced by precipitation of soluble salt in soils and water systems. It is likely due to natural and anthropogenic activities. High soluble salts in water and soil hinder plant growth, which directly affects the crop productivity that leads to land degradation. In non-agricultural lands, it affects urban landscapes through subsidence, corrosion, and groundwater quality deterioration. Moreover, it induces negative impacts on human health to a large extent. Proper management strategies and reclamation techniques can make the degrading lands more productive while knowledge of health effects linked to salinity can reduce the risk of exposure to diseases to a certain extent. Unfortunately, the literature related to the salinity problem draws limited exposure compared to the other environmental issues. Hence, the present chapter gives some information on the causes, consequences, and some effective methods for managing and reclaiming salinity-related issues that contribute to the sustainable management of arid, semiarid, and coastal regions.