Nature, Properties and Management of Saline and Alkali Soils

Contents: 1. Introduction and historical development. 2. Nomenclature and geographical distribution. 3. Origin, nature, extent and formation. 4. Diagnosis, monitoring and determination. 5. Classification and properties. 6. Effect of salt on soils. 7. Effect of salts on plants. 8. Physiology of salt tolerance. 9. Salts and plant mineral nutrition. 10. Reclamation. 11. Management. 12. Alternate land uses. 13. Quality of irrigation water. 14. Coastal saline soils and their management. References. Subject index.

"The salt affected soils and saline waters are widespread in several countries of the world and present a serious problem of immense practical importance for crop production because of their peculiar inhospitable characteristics for plant growth despite inherent potentialities. Faced with the Dilemma of salinity, for a long time, mankind considered salt affected soils as uncultivable wastelands and confined their energies to better soils. The need for extending cultivation on such hitherto lying barren lands on account of increasing demographic pressure and limited availability of good land for agricultural use, is urgently called for. Only a thorough knowledge of management technique will go a long way in optimal utilization of such lands.

This book contains chapters on various aspects of salt affected soils. It includes information on origin, distribution, classification and diagnosis of salt affected soils besides techniques of successful crop production on such soils. The technology and concepts of saline water irrigation are also sufficiently developed for sustained production. An attempt has been made in this monograph to consolidate the available information on the quality of irrigation water and technology for irrigation with saline water. It also includes information on drainage for salt affected soils, osmoregulatory mechanism in plants.

The book is intended for students, research workers and planner to acquaint them with the problems confronted in the successful crop production in salt-affected soils and use of saline waters for irrigation." (jacket)