Biosalinity

This article includes a improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (March 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message )

Biosalinity is the study and practice of using saline (salty) water for irrigating agricultural crops.

Many arid and semi-arid areas actually do have sources of water, but the available water is usually

of these areas was not systematically attempted until the second half of the 20th century.

Research in biosalinity includes studies of the

, which thrive under conditions of high salinity.

When properly applied (watering well in excess of evapotranspiration, maintaining soil structure for excellent drainage), brackish-water irrigation does not result in increased salinization of the soil. Sometimes this means that farmers have to add extra water after a rainstorm, to carry salts back down to below the root zone.

See also

• Alkali soil – Soil type with pH > 8.5
• Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI) – Indian forest research institute
• Biosaline agriculture – Production of crops in salt-rich conditions
• Crop tolerance to seawater – Crop tolerance to seawater is the ability of an agricultural crop to withstand the high salinity induced by irrigation with seawater.Pages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
• Halophyte – Salt-tolerant plant
• Halotolerance – Adaptation to high salinity
• Salt tolerance of crops
• Sodium in biology – Use of Sodium by organisms
• Soil salinity – Salt content in the soil
• Soil salinity control – Controlling the problem of soil salinity

External links

Organizations involved in biosaline research and development

• CGIAR: Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
• ICBA: International Center for Biosaline Agriculture
• USDA's George E. Brown Jr. Salinity Laboratory
• Salt Farm Texel
• The Seawater Foundation

Popular reviews

• Glenn, E. P.; Brown, J. J.; O'Leary, J. W. (1998). "Irrigating Crops with Seawater," Scientific American, Vol. 279, no. 8, Aug. 1998, pp. 56–61.