Soil Salinity and Its Management

Eman Tawfik,Muthuraman Yuvaraj,Prabakaran Elavarasi,Kasiviswanathan Subash Chandra Bose

doi:10.5772/intechopen.93329

Abstract

Soil salinity is a growing threat all over the world due to its toxic effect to reduce soil fertility and water uptake in the crops. An average of 418 million ha soil is saline in nature. Various climatic, geomorphic and rainfall pattern causes which involved in saline soil formation. To reduce the toxic effect proper management of saline soil is required. Irrigation water also a major concern regarding soil salinity management. Saline irrigation water enhances and maintains the severity soil salinity. Crop production aspects root zone salinity provides a strong negative impact on soil fertility. Salinity causes the reduction in nutrient ion, and water uptake has a significant negative effect on crop yields. Soil and water salinity interactions and their influence on crop growth and management of salinity are deliberated in this chapter.

Highlights

All over the world more than hundred countries approximately 418 million hectare of saline soils are present
Arid and semi-arid regions of the word highly affected by salinisation 6.27 percentage of soil in Asia affected by salinity
Phosphorus can be affected by fixation of calcium phosphate (Ca-P) due to higher saline condition Ca ion activity is high [17]

Summary

Introduction

All over the world more than hundred countries approximately 418 million hectare of saline soils are present. Asia alone contribute 46% of soils are salt affected the world. Arid and semi-arid regions of the word highly affected by salinisation 6.27 percentage of soil in Asia affected by salinity. Saline soil mainly consist soluble salts like chloride and sulphates of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), bicarbonate (HCO3−), carbonate (CO32−) and nitrate (NO3−) present. The EC (electrical conductivity) of saline soil is less than 4 dS m−1 (deci Siemens/meter), ESP (exchangeable sodium percentage) is less than 15% and pH is less than 8. Saline soil having more ionic salt species like Ca2+ which flocculates the soil when its dominated by Na which disperse the soil. Saline soils are mostly Ca2+ dominated flocculated and well aerated in nature. Dispersion and flocculation based on clay content of the soil

Process of soil salinisation

Measure of analysing soil salinity

Saturation extract (ECe)

Irrigation water salinity

Effect on plant growth

Effect on soil fertility

Periodical monitoring and assessment by salinity mapping

Chemical method i

Phytoremediation

Microbial remediation

Plant microbe interaction

Findings