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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Riverside, California » Agricultural Water Efficiency and Salinity Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #362895
Research Project: Sustaining Irrigated Agriculture in an Era of Increasing Water Scarcity and Reduced Water Quality

Location: Agricultural Water Efficiency and Salinity Research Unit

Title: Mapping soil salinity from space: Keeping an eye on degradation of the world’s farmland

Author
item SCUDIERO, ELIA - University Of California
item Skaggs, Todd
item Corwin, Dennis

Submitted to: Science Trends
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/10/2018
Publication Date: 12/12/2018
Citation: Scudiero, E., Skaggs, T.H., Corwin, D.L. 2018. Mapping soil salinity from space: Keeping an eye on degradation of the world’s farmland. Science Trends. https://www.doi.org/10.31988/SciTrends.46281.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31988/SciTrends.46281

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The presence of soluble salts, such as sodium chloride, in agricultural soils can dramatically reduce crop yields. The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that about a fifth of the world’s irrigated farmland is affected by salinity, and that over half of the salt-affected acreage occurs in four countries: China, India, Pakistan, and the United States. In this article, we discuss recent advances in the use of satellite remote sensing to map and inventory soil salinity. Mapping and inventorying soil salinity at state and continental levels is essential for identifying and understanding drivers and trends in soil salinity, understanding the economic impacts of the hazard, and for developing mitigation strategies and management plans.