Extent and characterisation of salt‐affected soils in Iran and strategies for their amelioration and management

Abstract

Salinisation of land resources is a major impediment to their optimal utilisation in many arid and semi-arid regions of the world including Iran. Estimates suggest that about 34 million ha, including 4Á1 million ha of the irrigated land, are salt-affected in Iran as the consequence of naturally occurring phenomena and anthropogenic activities. The annual economic losses due to salinisation in the country are more than US$ 1 billion. With variable levels of success, different approaches-salt leaching and drainage interventions, crop-based management, chemical amendments and fertilisers and integrated application of these approaches-have been used to enhance the productivity of salt-affected soils in the Country. From sustainable management perspective, it is revealed from the past research that integrated salinity management and mitigation approaches have the potential to successfully address the complex problems of salt-induced land degradation in Iran. As the growing need to produce more food and fibre for the expanding Iranian population necessitates the increased use of salt-affected land resources in the foreseeable future, there is an urgent need to develop and implement a pertinent National Strategic Plan. In addition to establishing networks for monitoring spatial and temporal changes in soil salinity and water quality, this plan should integrate the management of salt-affected environments into the overall management of land and water resources in the country. It should also address different management aspects of salt-affected land resources in a holistic manner by considering the biophysical and environmental conditions of the target areas as well as livelihoods of the affected communities. The involvement of the communities will facilitate in developing a greater understanding about the potential uses and markets of the agricultural products produced from salt-affected areas.

Effect of poultry manure on the yield and nutriments uptake of potato under saline conditions of arid regions

“…In fact, organic manures result a greater adsorption of Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ and K + than Na + which leads to lower soil ESP (Murtaza et al, 2009). Moreover, Qadir et al (2008) and Walker and Bernal (2008) reported that an acceleration of Na + leaching considerably decreases the ESP and EC.…”

“…In addition, by supplying major nutrients particularly N, P and K, the biofertilizers improve the mineral nutrient status and growth of plants grown in salt-affected soils (Qadir et al, 2008). In the same sense, organic matter can improve the microbiological activity of soil that plays a pivotal role in carbon mineralization and nutrient cycling.…”

Impact of monovalent cations on soil structure. Part I. Results of an Iranian soil

“…According to a soil database containing information from 10 Iranian provinces covering the most important agricultural areas, the concentration of K in soil is the highest among macronutrients (Jalali, 2015). The salinisation of land resources in Iran is the consequence of both natural phenomena (geological composition of parent material, stream salinity, wind-borne salinity, seawater intrusion, low rainfall and high evaporation) and anthropogenic activities (irrigation with saline/sodic surface or ground water, inadequate irrigation management practices and drainage facilities, over-grazing of pastures/vegetation) (Qadir et al, 2008). The present study investigated the impact of K and Na (with a focus on K) on soil structure, its stability and associated properties, and functions, using a loamy soil from north-eastern Iran.…”

Soil attributes functionality and water eutrophication in the surrounding area of Itaparica Reservoir, Brazil

“…Ambiental, v.17, n.9, p.1005-1013, 2013. seen in Planosols (CHESF, 1987;Silva et al, 2007). The pH is neutral to moderately alkaline ( Figure 5A) (EMBRAPA, 2006) as a result of the exchangeable sodium percentage (Qadir et al, 2008) and also of carbonate content, with values from 5 to 16% (CHESF, 1987). Due to the above characteristics these soils may have a nutrient imbalance or deficiency, particularly of iron and manganese (Sanchez et al, 2003;Qadir et al, 2006).…”