SALINITY AGRICULTURAL PROBLEM IN AGRICULTURAL LANDS

Mahdi Fahmi Fattah; Burhan Nareeman Nawkhas

doi:10.61796/jmgcb.v3i1.1584

Authors

Mahdi Fahmi Fattah
Mahdi.f.fattah@gmail.com
University of Kirkuk, Iraq
Burhan Nareeman Nawkhas University of Kirkuk, Iraq

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): Journal of Medical Genetics and Clinical Biology

Articles

November 5, 2025

Downloads

View Article

Abstract
How to Cite
Metrics
References
License

Objective: This study aims to address the increasing challenge of soil salinity as a critical barrier to sustainable agricultural production, emphasizing the essential roles of soil and water quality in maintaining productivity. Method: The research employs a descriptive and analytical approach, examining the causes of soil salinization in dry and semi-arid regions by differentiating between natural and human-induced factors, including improper irrigation practices, poor drainage, and excessive fertilizer use. Results: The findings indicate that the persistent use of low-quality irrigation water due to water scarcity and pollution accelerates salinity accumulation in agricultural soils, leading to a significant decline in soil fertility and crop yield. The study highlights that effective mitigation requires leaching techniques, improved irrigation management, and the cultivation of salt-tolerant crops. Novelty: This article provides an integrative perspective that combines ecological and agronomic factors, offering practical strategies to rehabilitate saline soils and promote sustainable agriculture, especially in regions facing increasing water stress due to climate change.

L. A. Richards, Ed., Diagnosis and Improvement of Saline and Alkali Soils (USDA Agriculture Handbook No. 60). U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1954.

R. S. Ayers and D. W. Westcot, Water Quality for Agriculture (FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 29 Rev.1). Food and Agriculture Organization, 1985.

N. K. Al-Barazi, Previous Source, p. 191.

A. I. R. Karbal, “Evaluation of the Irrigation and Drainage Network in Babylon Governorate,” Journal of the College of Arts, no. 19, Univ. of Basra, 1981, p. 138.

I. M. Habib et al., “Desert Land Irrigation Methods,” Previous Source, p. 280.

D. W. James, Previous Source, p. 120.

A. A. Hassan, Irrigation, Drainage and Treatment of Salinity, 1st ed., Kuwait Foundation, Kuwait, 1995, p. 202.

J. D. Rhoades, F. Chanduvi, and S. M. Lesch, Soil Salinity Assessment: Methods and Interpretation of Electrical Conductivity Measurements (FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 57). Food and Agriculture Organization, 1999.

E. V. Maas and G. J. Hoffman, “Crop Salt Tolerance—Current Assessment,” Journal of the Irrigation and Drainage Division (ASCE), vol. 103, no. 2, pp. 115–134, 1977.

R. Munns and M. Tester, “Mechanisms of Salinity Tolerance,” Annual Review of Plant Biology, vol. 59, pp. 651–681, 2008.

FAO Global Soil Partnership, Global Map of Salt-Affected Soils (GSASmap). FAO Knowledge Repository, 2021.

P. Rengasamy, “World Salinization with Emphasis on Australia,” Journal of Experimental Botany, vol. 57, no. 5, pp. 1017–1023, 2006.

J. Shalhevet, “Using Water of Marginal Quality for Crop Production,” Agricultural Water Management, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 233–269, 1994.

E. V. Maas, S. R. Grattan, and G. Ogata, “Foliar Salt Accumulation and Injury in Crops Sprinkled with Saline Water,” Irrigation Science, vol. 3, pp. 157–168, 1982.

K. Shi, Y. Liu et al., “A Review of the Category, Mechanism, and Controlling Methods of Emitter Clogging in Drip Irrigation,” Agriculture, vol. 12, no. 2, p. 202, 2022.

L. Zhangzhong et al., “Effects of Drip Irrigation Models on Chemical Clogging of Emitters under Saline Water Drip Irrigation,” Water, vol. 10, no. 3, p. 345, 2018.

M. Qadir, E. Quillérou, V. Nangia et al., “Economics of Salt-Induced Land Degradation and Restoration,” Natural Resources Forum, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 282–295, 2014.

P. Shrivastava and R. Kumar, “Soil Salinity: A Serious Environmental Issue and Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria as One of the Tools for Its Alleviation,” Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 123–131, 2015.

M. Zaman, S. A. Shahid, and L. Heng, “Irrigation Systems and Zones of Salinity Development,” in Guideline for Salinity Assessment, Mitigation and Adaptation Using Nuclear and Related Techniques, Springer, 2018.