Vegetative bioremediation of sodic and saline-sodic soils for productivity enhancement and environment conservation

Manzoor Qadir, Jim Oster, Sven Schubert, Ghulam Murtaza. (1/1/2006). Vegetative bioremediation of sodic and saline-sodic soils for productivity enhancement and environment conservation, in "Biosaline Agriculture and Salinity Tolerance in Plants". United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Springer.

Abstract

Salt-affected soils occupy nearly 20% of irrigated area worldwide. As a major category of salt-affected soils, sodic and saline-sodic soils are characterized by the occurrence of sodium (Na+) at levels that result in poor physical properties and fertility problems, thereby threatening agricultural productivity in many arid and semi-arid regions. Amelioration of these soils is driven by providing a soluble source of calcium (Ca2+) to replace excess Na+ on the cation exchange complex. The displaced Na+ is either leached from the root zone by excess irrigation, a process that requires soil permeability and provision of a natural or artificial drainage system, or is taken up by crops.