“…Irrigated agriculture faces serious threats of waterlogging and salinization in arid and semiarid regions of the world, where more than 75 % of the global population live (Boumans et al 1988;Wolde-Kirkos and Chawla 1994;Chowdary et al 2008;Han et al 2011;Singh 2012aSingh , 2015a. The continuous expansion of the irrigation system, seepage from unlined canal networks, percolation from irrigation fields, under-utilization of poor quality groundwater, rolling topography, low-lying areas, inadequate drainage, and poor water management practices are the major factors contributing to this phenomenon (Shah 1988;Brahmabhatt et al 2000;Hillel 2000;Hodgson et al 2002;Alam and Bhutta 2004;Manjunatha et al 2004;Guganesharajah et al 2007;Ritzema et al 2008;Wang et al 2008;Quan et al 2010;Singh 2011).…”