Climate & Environment
Salinization
The accumulation of salts in soil and water, degrading fertility — a creeping threat to irrigated agriculture worldwide.
Definition
Salinization is the accumulation of water-soluble salts in soil to levels that impair plant growth, occurring naturally (primary) or through human activity (secondary): irrigation without adequate drainage raising saline water tables, seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers, and deforestation altering water balances. Salt-affected soils cover substantial areas of the world's irrigated land, with significant fractions of irrigated area in Central Asia, the Middle East and Australia affected.
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