Promising management strategies to improve crop sustainability and to amend soil salinity

Abstract

By affecting 10% of the world’s total arable land, soil salinity has become a potential threat to feeding the exploding population. As per the current scenario, among 1,125 million hectares of salt-affected land, nearly 76 million hectares are seriously affected due to human-induced salinization. Due to soil salinization, crop productivity is being hampered. In order to enhance productivity, there is an urgent need to shift from traditional methods to advanced 3E (efficient, economic, and environmentally sound) technology for soil salinity reclamation and management to achieve better soil health and sustainable crop production. The detailed mechanism of salt interference with various pathways involved in plant growth and development needs to be understood. This article critically reviews the mechanism of harmful salt interference with nutrient dynamics in soil and various physiological pathways involved in crop growth to apply various soil-oriented (crop residue management, biochar application, and agroforestry system) and plant-oriented [plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPMs), plant growth regulators, and nanotechnology] promising reclamation and rehabilitation approaches to mitigate its hazardous effect on soil salinity. The monitoring and assessment of salt-affected soils through remote sensing (RS) and geographical information systems (GISs) are pivotal in the management and framing of long-term policies to confront alarming threats to crop productivity and sustainability. This study provides an insight into recent developments in soil salinity management and proposes futuristic solutions that could ameliorate soil salinity to attain crop sustainability under adverse environmental conditions.

Review of Crop Response to Soil Salinity Stress: Possible Approaches from Leaching to Nano-Management

“…Amendments applied to the soil to achieve this include gypsum and related compounds [76], biochar [154], compost [52], earthworms [178], microbial inoculants [50], vermicompost [79], and electro-remediation [179]. Other approaches to improve plant response to salinity stress include afforestation [180], seed priming [173], genetic improvements to crops [181], using crops that are salt tolerant (halophytes) [50], and agroforestry [182]. Some approaches depend on utilizing both soil and plant management in a synergic manner [50].…”

Bacterial Strategies for Improving the Yield, Quality, and Adaptability of Oil Crops

“…The overexpression of the GmTGA13 gene is beneficial for the absorption of K + and Ca 2+ into cells, thereby regulating ion homeostasis balance under salt stress [180]. The use of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) is an important strategy for alleviating salt stress in plants [181][182][183]. Halotolerant PGPB are usually isolated from the rhizosphere or endosphere of plants growing in salt-stressed environments, as only the bacteria capable of withstanding salt stress can effectively enhance plant growth in saline conditions [184].…”

Land Degradation, Causes, Implications and Sustainable Management in Arid and Semi Arid Regions: A Case Study of Egypt

“…(Ejersa, 2021) discovered that land degradation leads to a loss of soil organic matter and fertility, resulting in a decrease in agricultural yield. Physical LD within the root zone, according to (Mishra et al, 2023) and (Saguye, 2017), is the greatest contributor to productivity loss. The primary causes of increased erosion include urban development, industrialization, deforestation, and agriculture.…”

“…Management measures that include establishment of forest plantation, organic fertiliser application, devoid crop residue clearance, crop rotation practises, bush fallow/shifting cultivation, and control overgrazing can improve soil nutrients as well as crop productive capacity (Alemu, 2015). Furthermore, to improve soil health and sustain agricultural output, immediate need to transit from native approaches to sophisticated 3Es (environmental, efficient and economically acceptable) technologies for land recovery management to achieve sustainable land management (Mishra et al, 2023).…”