Agricultural Science : Saline and Sodic Soils for Salt Tolerance

Description

After irrigation, the water added to the soil is used by the crop or evaporates directly from the moist soil. The salt, however, is left behind. If not removed, it accumulates and can sometimes even be recognisable by a white layer of dry salt on the soil surface. This process is called salinisation.
Salinity can be controlled but it is a time consuming task with a nature of expense involved. One approach is constructing good irrigation systems that gradually improve soil conditions and prevent formation of waterlogged fields. Waterlogging itself inhibits plant growth and also reduces the ability of the roots to exclude salt, thus increasing the uptake rate of salt and its accumulation in shoots. Systems need to apply slightly more water than the crop needs, to promote leaching, and then drain and catch groundwater so that it can be recycled for agricultural or industrial uses.
Unfortunately, poor irrigation practices often promote rather than control salinity, and engineered drainage systems extending over large areas of land are financially out of reach for most countries.
Agricultural Science is a book which has been written to serve the purpose of assessing and analysing the nature of relationship between agriculture, and science & technology.