Salinity Problems Research Articles

Contribution of Sentinel-2 multispectral satellite images to study salinization effect of the Touggourt agricultural region (Algeria)

In this paper, we propose a new spatio-morphological mapping of a region affected by the problem of salinization of its agricultural land. The rise of salt, which occurs naturally by infiltration of water passing through a saline layer through the faults, is accentuated by poor irrigation management, particularly by the use of Mio-Pliocene’s water with an excessive salt content and the inadequate drainage system. We use optical remote sensing data that allows us to study a spacious area with high accuracy (up to 10-m resolution) using Sentinel-2 images in combination with in situ data. In addition to the use of heterogeneous data, we also combine several methods (salinity and vegetation index, K-means clustering, and artificial neural networks classification) to achieve more accurate and reliable results by using software specially designed for this type of processing such as SNAP with its two versions (python dependent and stand-alone). We obtain an occupation map with six classes (dry salty soils, fine sand, medium sand, vegetation, agricultural land, and buildings) with a surface area of salt soils reaching 23% of the total surface area against only 14% of vegetation that is still likely to decrease. These methods allowed us not only to delimit the region affected by the excess salt with more or less intensity but also to highlight its impact on the quality of the vegetation.

Salinity Management in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia

The southern Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) is particularly vulnerable to salinity problems. Much of the Basin’s landscape and underlying groundwater is naturally saline with groundwater not being suitable for human or irrigation use. Since European settlement in the early 1800s, two actions—the clearance of deep-rooted native vegetation for dryland agriculture and the development of irrigation systems on the Riverine Plains and Mallee region—have resulted in more water now entering the groundwater systems, resulting in mobilization of the salt to the land surface and to rivers. While salinity has been a known issue since the 1960s, it was only in the mid-1980s that was recognized as one of the most significant environmental and economic challenges facing the MDB. Concerted and cooperative action since 1988 by the Commonwealth and Basin state governments under a salinity management approach implemented over the past 30 years has resulted in salinity now being largely under control, but still requiring on-going active management into the future. The approach has involved the development of three consecutive salinity strategies governing actions from 1988 to 2000, from 2001 to 2015, and the most recent from 2016 to 2030. The basis of the approach and all three strategies is an innovative, world-leading salinity management framework consisting of: An agreed salinity target; joint works and measures to reduce salt entering the rivers; and an agreed accountability and governance system consisting of a system of salinity credits to offset debits, a robust and agreed method to quantify the credits and debits, and a salinity register to keep track of credits and debits. This paper first provides background to the salinity issue in the MDB, then reviews the three salinity management strategies, the various actions that have been implemented through these strategies to control salinity, and the role of the recent Basin Plan in salinity management. We then discuss the future of salinity in the MDB given that climate change is forecast to lead to a hotter, drier and more variable climate (particularly more frequent droughts), and that increased salt loads to the River Murray are predicted to come from the lower reaches of the Mallee region. Finally, we identify the key success factors of the program.

Influence of clogging substances on pore characteristics and permeability of geotextile envelopes of subsurface drainage pipes in arid areas

This study investigates the influence of clogging substances on pore characteristics and permeability of geotextile envelopes that were used for 3, 7 and 15 years in irrigated farmlands in Xinjiang region, which is arid and suffers from the soil salinity problem. Results show that the macropores (above 125 μm) of envelopes are evidently clogged, whereas the smaller pores less than 100 μm are still unblocked after operation. The permeability coefficients of geotextile envelopes after serving for 3 and 15 years are smaller than the minimum required permeability coefficients after clogging. The main chemical components of clogging substances in the geotextile envelope are silicon dioxide and calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate content of the geotextile envelope is consistent with calcium carbonate content of soil. Chemical clogging susceptibility increases with the operation time of the subsurface drainage pipes. The ratio of O90 size of envelope material over d90 of soils (O90/d90) and saturation index (SI) can be used to assess the susceptibility of physical and chemical clogging respectively. This study provides a preliminary reference for estimating the clogging susceptibility of geotextile envelopes in arid areas.

Terme Ovasında çeltik yetiştirilen alanların tuzluluk ve sodyumluluk durumlarının belirlenmesi

This study was carried out in order to determine the soil characteristics of paddy cultivation areas in Terme plain and to determine the salinity and sodium status of these areas. The study was conducted in 2018 in the post-irrigation period. In the study, 240 soil samples were collected from 4 different depths of 0-30 cm, 30-60 cm, 60-90 cm and 90-120 cm at 60 different points representing the study area in the post harvest period. Physical and chemical analyzes of the samples were performed. Descriptive statistical analysis of the obtained data was made and spatial distribution maps of the area were created by using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). It was observed that the electrical conductivity (EC) values of the study area soils ranged from 0.12 dS / m to 2.92 dS / m. The soil of the study area was determined to be salty or slightly salty. In general, it was determined that there is no salinity problem in the study area soils. Exhengeable sodium percentage was ranged from 1.15% to 12% in the study area soils. It was observed that “sodic” soils in the study area. The ESP value was found to be less than 6% in the majority of the area.

Prospects of biodrainage to mitigate problems of waterlogging and soil salinity in context of India - A review

Major parts of agricultural lands in arid and semi-arid regions of India are affected by soil salinity and waterlogging in canal command area and outside. Waterlogging is caused by a rising water table and poor drainage conditions. Stress due to waterlogging and salinity are serious to plants in all stages from seed germination to active growth and maturity. Unmanaged affected agricultural lands turn into low productive marshlands in the long run. Physical provision of surface or sub-surface drainage structures can rescue in such a situation. Yet, high skill and investment are required in the installation and maintenance of such structures. Alternatively, biodrainage method has been evolved as an effective method recently world over. In biodrainage, plants are raised over a larger area, which can transpire and remove an enormous amount of water from the soil. Plants having adequate adaptive traits and tolerance mechanisms are desirable to mitigate waterlogging and salinity. Biodrainage is suitable in rainfed and irrigated conditions. Planting of right plant species in optimum population and geometry decides the efficiency of biodrainage. Further, combining biodrainage with the conventional drainage can improve land and water productivity. Eucalyptus is the most suitable tree species for biodrainage as it has well performed in versatile environments. It possesses appreciable tolerance to salinity, sodicity and waterlogged conditions of the soil. Fast-growing with a straight trunk, deep rooting ability, low shading effect and high transpiration capacity are promising characteristics of this tree. Prominent woody species like Acacia nilotica, Dalbergia sissoo, Hardwickia binata can also be grown for high profit.

Soil salinity assessment using geostatistical models in some parts of Kano River Irrigation Project Phase I (KRPI)

Continuous irrigation in the study area may lead to the development of salinity or sodicity problems that may affect the agricultural productivity. Soil salinity assessment was conducted at Kano River Irrigation Project Phase I (KRIP I). This study was carried out to assess soil salinity level and variability at the study site. The grid sampling technique was adopted where fifty (50) sub surface soil samples were collected from plots under three different management practices at the depth of 0–15 cm. Laboratory techniques of determining soil salinity parameters were conducted for the following parameters: EC, pH and exchangeable bases (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+). Geostatistics and Semivariogram analysis were applied for spatial variation of the soil properties. The results revealed that the chemical properties of the soil were moderately acidic to slightly acidic soil reaction. The mean values of EC and CEC were rated low according to USDA standard, while ESP was rated high indicating sodicity problem. The nugget/sill ratio model or spatial dependency Co/(Co + C) defines the spatial property. The result revealed that pH, ESP, CEC, Ca2+, Na+ and Mg2+ are having stronger dependency, while K+ with moderate and EC with weak dependency within the model. This was connected to anthropogenic activities in the area which resulted to strong spatial correlation after a long history of cultivation or the type of soil management practices. The study recommends among other issues the use of compost manure to replace excessive application of synthetic fertilizer especially on sites with potential salinity/sodicity concern for effective soil remediation.

Problem identification on surface water quality in the Mun River Basin, Thailand

The largest Mekong River Tributary in Thailand, the Mun River nurtures more than 10 million people, although degradation of its water quality has been reported. This study aims to illustrate spatio-temporal patterns of water quality across the basin. Water quality datasets acquired from field sampling, questionnaires, and long-term monitoring were analyzed. The findings show seven surface water quality characteristics, which were significantly spatiotemporally dependent. During the monsoon, water quality was often found with high coliform bacteria. Salinity problem was substantial, particularly during the early monsoon in the upper northern part. The dry-season water quality was even worse, exhibiting high loadings of organic compounds, coliform bacteria, nutrient, and low dissolved oxygen. This poor water quality was found in Lam Takhong Sub-Basin and the lower basins—including the lower part of the main river, Huai Samran Sub-Basin, and Lam Se Bai Sub-Basin. The degrading water, with a rotten smell and algae bloom, was affecting the quality of supplied water, as reported by the local agencies. Discharge of household wastewater could respond to the poor water quality, exhibiting high BOD and PO43−, whereas agriculture contributes to high N-to-P ratio characteristics. Suggestions on water quality management should focus on solutions for salinity, control of direct discharges of household wastewater, promoting good agricultural practices, and properly disinfecting tap water.

Spatial Analysis of Soil Characteristics and its Effect on Determining the Susceptibility of lands of the RasheedRegion: A Study in Soil Geography

Twelve pends were selected and distributed on three verticals transects paths on the Tigers river in Al Rasheed county.Passing through land covers, that classified and covers the whole region. Based on the 8 Landsat of the year 2015. It was oriental classified by using Erdas 10.2 . The pedons were distributed on the area of each varicty of these classes. the series of soil according of the transect series (DW74,MMg,DMu6 , Df96) respectively were represented P1 , P2 , P3 , P4 .
 The second transits series(DM97,MM5,DM96,DF115) respectively were represented P5 , P6 , P7 , P8 .The third transits series(DM46,MMg,MF12,MM11) respectively were represented P9 , P10 , P11 , P12 .The highest variation was the salinity (Ec) Electrical conductivity and the value of coefficient of variance c.v (112.2) and the lowest variation was for (Ph) soil reaction and its value of c.v (3.26).The land of the study area was classified into four classes of capability according to the USA classification of land capability classification (1960) Class I , Class II , Class III , Class IV . The largest area was the third class with (19672)ha . and the lowest area of the first class was (5224)ha , It was found that the most important determinates in subclass capability is the problem of salinity which was highly , and the watertable of Imperfectly drained type . The Capability Units category included internal drainage,W3 , Salinity , C3 and C2 .

Salinization and drainage problems of agricultural land

AbstractThe extension of irrigated agriculture is essential to fulfilling the mounting demand for food and fibre from a growing population which is anticipated to reach about 10 billion individuals in 2050. Lacking the necessary drainage, this extension can bring about salinization issues in irrigated regions. Continuous irrigation over many years with no adequate drainage services has led to huge agricultural regions becoming unproductive. Salinization problems linked to poor drainage are widespread in agricultural zones over the world. The aforementioned drainage‐related salinization issues in agricultural land have been solved by using various methods and techniques. This paper presents an assessment of some non‐conventional methods and strategies utilized for dealing with salinization and drainage issues of irrigated land. An indication of the drainage and salinization issues of irrigated areas and the significance of the study are given. Reasoning and foundation of the issues are presented. Numerical and analytical solutions of the problems are described. The drainage water management technique for managing nutrient losses from a drainage system is discussed. The analysis revealed that conjunctive water use with an increased groundwater proportion can to some extent manage the salinization and root‐zone submergence problems of irrigated areas. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Salinity Stress Effect on the Germination of Three Cereals: Maize (Zea mays), Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and Rice (Oriza sativa)

In Africa, cereals are major staple foods for the majority of the population. The cereal crop is not immune to the problem of salinity, which could threaten 10% of its world harvest. This work was undertaken to study the comparative effect of salinity on germination of three cereals, maize (Zea mays), millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and rice (Oriza sativa). The seeds were germinated in Petri dishes containing a range of NaCl solution (0 g/l, 5 g/l, 10 g/l, 15 g/l and 25 g/l) in the dark and at room temperature. The harmful effect of salt varies depending on the concentration of NaCl and the type of cereal. It is low on the germination rate of seeds up to a concentration of 10 g/l NaCl. From this dose onwards, this rate is reduced by 44% for millet, 20% for rice and 10% for maize. The average germination time between 0 g/l and 10 g/l NaCl is low and increases strongly between 10 g/l and 15 g/l and reaches 37 days (millet) and 20 days (rice). Corn root growth is less affected by salinity (1.2 cm) at 15 g/l NaCl compared to more sensitive rice and millet (0 cm). The height of the epicotyl between 0 g/l and 25 g/l NaCl increased from 11.8 to 3.6 cm (corn), from 0.5 to 0 cm (rice) and from 4.3 to 0.3 cm (millet). The combination of the parameters studied shows that all three cereals are able to tolerate NaCl concentrations of 10 g/l. Rice is the most sensitive to salinity while maize is more tolerant than millet.

Irrigation Water Quality Assessments for Irrigated Lands of Konya - Sarayönü Gözlü Agricultural Enterprise

This study was conducted to assess the irrigation water quality parameters of the water resources in irrigated lands of Konya- Sarayönü Gözlü Agricultural Enterprise. Water samples were taken from deep wells of the research site and soil samples were taken (0-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm depths) from different sections of the research site. Water quality parameters and soil physico-chemical characteristics were investigated.Soil texture of the research site was identified as clay and clay-loam. Soil pH values varied between 7.11 – 7.90, EC values varied between 696 – 803 µmhos/cm. Irrigation water pH values varied between 6.08 – 7.45 and EC values varied between 1071 - 1989 µmhos/cm. Water samples were classified as C 3 S 1 (highly saline) according to US Salinity Lab classification system. Despite high salinity levels of irrigation waters, a salinity problem was not encountered in soils of the research site. However, that does not necessarily mean that there won’t be a salinity problem in the future since irrigation practices of the region are quite new and sufficient time has not elapsed yet for salt accumulation in soils.Relevant cultural measures should be taken to prevent possible future salinity problems and farmers should be trained about water quality and salinity problems.

Solar-Energy Innovative and Sustainable Solution for Freshwater and Food Production for Lake Titicaca Islands

Drought and scarcity of water resources require innovative and sustainable solutions to secure water availability for poor people. Choice of solar energy for desalination is a promising and sustainable cost-effective alternative for improving high quality water supply. Today, almost all Latin American countries use different desalination technologies except for Bolivia. Bolivia has an arid to semiarid climate and suffers from salinity problems especially the Altiplano area. Thus, there is a need to introduce innovative solution using latest technologies such solar desalination at locations with scarcity of freshwater. This study suggests implementing a small desalination plant of about 10 m3/day as a demonstration plant and then successively extending the capacity. As well, it is suggested to build a solar energy system with bigger capacity to cater not only for the desalination plant, but also the excess energy to be benefit for homes, roads lighting, and other important purposes for the local community to improve life standard of the people.

Solar-Energy Innovative and Sustainable Solution for Freshwater and Food Production for Lake Titicaca Islands

Drought and scarcity of water resources require innovative and sustainable solutions to secure water availability for poor people. Choice of solar energy for desalination is a promising and sustainable cost-effective alternative for improving high quality water supply. Today, almost all Latin American countries use different desalination technologies except for Bolivia. Bolivia has an arid to semiarid climate and suffers from salinity problems especially the Altiplano area. Thus, there is a need to introduce innovative solution using latest technologies such solar desalination at locations with scarcity of freshwater. This study suggests implementing a small desalination plant of about 10 m3/day as a demonstration plant and then successively extending the capacity. As well, it is suggested to build a solar energy system with bigger capacity to cater not only for the desalination plant, but also the excess energy to be benefit for homes, roads lighting, and other important purposes for the local community to improve life standard of the people.

Adaptation to social-ecological stressors: a case study with Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.) growers of north-western India

Indigenous fruit trees, though critical to the local livelihoods in many areas across the world, continue to receive little research and policy attention. In this study, we recorded the perceptions of Indian jujube (ber) growers of Haryana, India, to understand how social-ecological stressors were impacting their livelihoods and how they were responding to the constraints being faced using their own creativity and institutional recommendations. Data were recorded through an exploratory research design combining both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Principal component analysis and variables factor map revealed differential contributions of orchard attributes and adaptive practices to the variability in individual principal components as well as to the cumulative variation. It emerged that despite serious challenges like poor access to the markets, feeble institutional support and the problems of salinity and fresh water scarcity, a large majority (80.0%) of the respondents had moderate to high willingness to continue ber cultivation. Our respondents were almost unanimous that environmentally resilient nature and low input needs make ber an attractive option for the resource-scarce local conditions. We noted, however, that hardy tree nature alone may not be a guarantee to ber groves’ sustainability in the long run and that doable interventions were inevitable to insulate the growers’ livelihoods from risks. Specifically, increased adoption of proven technologies (e.g. mulching, drip irrigation), linking farmers to the markets and organizing them into groups for the pooled use of resources seem absolutely essential to sustain ber-based production systems in face of such challenges.

The importance of farmers' perceptions of salinity and adaptation strategies for ensuring food security: Evidence from the coastal rice growing areas of Bangladesh

Coastal salinity causes substantial adverse impacts on agricultural productivity and food security. Farmers' choice of salinity adaptation strategies might depend on how they perceive the problem. This research examined rice farmers' perceptions of salinity, adaptation strategies, and its implications for policy initiatives to sustain rice production in the affected coastal areas of Bangladesh. Boro rice growers (n = 109) randomly selected from two coastal sub-districts were interviewed using a semi-structured survey. Awareness of salinity and its increase over the past 20 years was widespread among rice farmers. A high proportion of farmers (90%) perceived the reproductive (e.g. booting, heading, and flowering) stages of the rice plant as the most sensitive to salinity problems. Salinity (ECe) was measured in the farmers' fields and were categorized according to farmers' perceptions and scientific interpretation (e.g. high or low). Farmers perceived a field affected by high salinity at a lower EC reading than the scientific interpretation of the salinity level. Most of the farmers (67%) were undertaking early transplanting and applying irrigation in order to adapt to salinity problems which occur later in rice crop growth during Boro season. Thus, farmers' actions demonstrated that their perceptions of salinity and adaptation responses were pre-emptive of when salinity was most likely to have an impact on the rice crop. Farmers' perceptions of salinization and measures to manage salinity need to be considered in research prioritization and policy formulation by the government. This action could potentially secure rice production and thus contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-1, 2 and 3).

Use of Soil-Structured Capillary Barrier can Mitigate the Impact of Saline-Irrigation Water on Marigold Grown Under Field Condition

Capillary barriers (CBs) as engineered porous composites is novel and promising technology for mitigating salinity and drought stress of plants. This study aimed to imitate a naturally formed CB structure recently discovered in the reservoir bed of Al-Khoud dam at the Governorate of Muscat in northern Oman and to test the impact of this unique CB on mitigating the salinity stress of marigold plants grown under an open field condition. A plot was constructed and divided into “structured” (engineered cascade CB design) and “unstructured” soils and planted with marigold (Tagetes erecta) plants that were subjected to four salinity treatments (control with ECi ≈ 0.6 dS m-1 ; 3 dS m-1; 6 dS m-1; and 9 dS m-1). Plant physiological, vegetative, and reproductive growth parameters were measured in each treatment. The results showed that the structured soil significantly saved irrigation water and reduce salts accumulation. Structured soil improved all vegetative and reproductive plant parameters measured and helped in reducing the effects of salinity stress on the growth and production of the marigold under arid-climate field conditions. The results also showed the capability of structured soil in water saving and improving water use efficiency. This study substantiates a novel method in mitigating salinity problem and in water saving in arid and semi-arid regions, in particular in Oman. Further studies are required to test the use of the engineered cascade CB design with different crops and with alternative (e.g. subsurface) irrigation methods.

The role of BADH gene in oxidative, salt, and drought stress tolerances of white clover

The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of BADH gene and control whether it plays an important role to protect white clover Trifolium repens L. against oxidative, salt, and drought stresses. Three genotypes possessing BADH and 1 genotype lacking BADH were selected, considering the expression levels of BADH in response to methyl viologen mediated oxidative stress. The genotypes possessing BADH displayed significantly less ion leakage under oxidative stress treatment, compared to that lacking BADH . In order to test salinity tolerance, the plants were treated with 300 mM NaCl for 2 weeks, and to mimic drought conditions, plants were grown without irrigating for 5 days. Under the salt stress, the plants possessing BADH contained lower malondialdehyde levels and higher chlorophyll contents than that of plants lacking BADH . Similarly, under the drought conditions, the plants possessing BADH were found to have increased levels of glycinebetaine, proline, and high relative water contents than the plant lacking BADH . These findings indicate that the plants having BADH exhibited enhanced tolerance to salt and drought stresses. These enhanced tolerances of plants possessing BADH gene is attributed to its ability to induce glycinebetaine synthesis. Moreover, the plants possessing BADH were found to exhibit higher relative feed value under both stress and normal conditions. These plants could be used as forage crops on marginal areas having salinity or drought problems.

AN ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY FOR THE SUITABILITY OF IRRIGATION IN RELIZANE PLAIN, ALGERIA

Located in an area characterized by an arid climate, the plain of La Mina, records an annual rainfall of 300 mm and an evapotranspiration equal to 1500 mm, which generates a deficit of 1200 mm, this shortage of water allocated to agriculture, forced farmers to use groundwater. The soils of the plain of the Mina and in particular the soil of the irrigated perimeters, suffer from a problem of salinization. Irrigation methods and the quality of the water used are the decisive triggers. The results of the hydrochemical analyzes carried out, focused on the major elements of these waters. They mainly have a sodium chloride facies, an EC average of (5.16 dS / m) which indicates that the waters are heavily salted, an average value of (SAR) of 20.67, shows that there is a very high risk of sodicity, playing a role in the physical degradation of soils. The Riverside and Wilcox diagrams show that it is the C4S4 class which is the most dominant, corresponding to a water of very high salinity and strongly sodium of poor quality, not recommended for irrigation.

Validation of Nitrogen Fertilizer Recommendation for Cotton at Middle Awash Areas, Afar Region

The productivity of Cotton, the cash crop in middle awash has been declined due to the deteriorated productivity of soil from miss-management of soil fertility and irrigation water that causes salinity problems. Additionally, application of the optimum rate of the most yield-limiting nutrient, nitrogen fertilizer for cotton varieties is still limiting. This experiment was conducted during 2017–2018 to validate the best and significant results of previously conducted experiments, on larger plots in similar agro-ecology and soil type at Gewane and Amibara districts of the Afar region, Ethiopia. The recommended Nitrogen fertilizer (46 kg ha -1 ) and farmer practice (no fertilizer) were replicated thrice per farmers’ field across four experimental sites. Pre-sowing composited and after harvest treatment-wise soil samples were collected and analyzed following the standard procedures. The seed-cotton yield of the field experiment was subjected to analysis of variances using the SAS software program version 9.0. Analysis of variance for combined data over the years and locations reveals that plant height was significantly influenced by locations and also the interaction effects of year-location. In terms of seed-cotton yield, a significant difference was observed due to the effects of locations and treatments applied. Consequently, a significantly higher mean seed-cotton yield (2.89 ton ha -1 ) was recorded at 46 kg ha -1 of Nitrogen fertilizer level over the local practice (without fertilizer) 1.72 ton ha -1 of seed-cotton yield. Therefore, 46 kg ha -1 of nitrogen fertilizer is identified as a better management option for cotton production in middle Awash. Keywords/Phrases : Cotton, Middle-Awash, nitrogen, validation, yield-limiting nutrient DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/10-8-02 Publication date: April 30 th 2020

Assessment of Marker Based Genotype Diversity of Saltol QTL in Relation to Seedling Stage Salinity Tolerance in Selected Rice Genotypes

Salinity stress is one of the major soil problems in relation to rice production in Sri Lanka. Development of salinity tolerant rice through rice breeding is a key solution for salinity problem. Saltol is the major Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) responsible for salt tolerance at the seedling stage of the rice plants which is mapped on chromosome one of the rice genome. To select most salt tolerant rice genotypes for future breeding programmes and test the usefulness of the Microsatellite (SSR) markers associated with Saltol QTL, 18 rice varieties were screened using electrical conductivity 12 dSm-1 nutrient solution for salt tolerance at the seedling stage using a visual score of 1-9 scale. Six polymorphic SSR markers linked to the Saltol QTL were used to determine the impact of these markers associated with salt tolerance in rice. Results of the phenotypic screening of 18 rice genotypes showed different responses for salt stress at the seedling stage. Based on the phenotypic screening rice genotypes were categorized into four groups, and Pokkali accessions were the most tolerant genotypes for salinity stress which can be useful as donor parents for future rice breeding programs. Microsatellite marker RM10843 showed highest allelic number while RM140 and RM10748 showed lowest allelic number. Polymorphism information content (PIC) value varied from 0.1780 for RM10748 to 0.7659 for marker alleles. Based on the six SSR markers, 18 rice genotypes were clustered into two groups and salinity tolerant Pokkali accessions were grouped in a separate cluster. Salinity tolerant and susceptible genotypes were clearly discriminated by RM10852 marker in 3% agarose gel and positively associated with the result of the phenotypic screening. Therefore, the marker will be useful in Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) in rice breeding programmes for salinity tolerance.