Critical knowledge gaps and research priorities in global soil salinity

Authors: HOPMANS, JAN - University Of California, Davis; QURESHI, A. - International Center For Biosaline Agriculture Of Dubai; KISEKKA, I. - University Of California, Davis; MUNNS, R. - University Of Western Australia; GRATTAN, S. - University Of California, Davis; RENGASAMY, P. - University Of Adelaide; BEN-GAL, A. - Gilat Research Center; ASSOULINE, S. - Volcani Center (ARO); JARVAUX, M. - University Of Louvain; MINHAS, P. - Indian Council Of Agricultural Research (ICAR); RAATS, P.A. - Wageningen University And Research Center; Skaggs, Todd; WANG, G. - China Agricultural University; DE JONG VAN LIER, Q. - University Of São Paulo; JIAO, H. - China Agricultural University; LAVADO, R. - Universidad De Buenos Aires; LAZAROVITCH, N. - Ben Gurion University Of Negev; LI, B. - China Agricultural University; TALEISNIK, E. - Catholic University Of Córdoba

Submitted to: Advances in Agronomy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2021
Publication Date: 5/13/2021
Citation: Hopmans, J.W., Qureshi, A.S., Kisekka, I., Munns, R., Grattan, S.R., Rengasamy, P., Ben-Gal, A., Assouline, S., Jarvaux, M., Minhas, P.S., Raats, P.C., Skaggs, T.H., Wang, G., De Jong Van Lier, Q., Jiao, H., Lavado, R.S., Lazarovitch, N., Li, B., Taleisnik, E. 2021. Critical knowledge gaps and research priorities in global soil salinity. Advances in Agronomy. 169:1-191. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2021.03.001.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2021.03.001

Interpretive Summary: Approximately 1 billion ha of the global land surface is currently salt-affected, representing about 7% of the earth’s land surface. Whereas most of it results from natural geochemical processes, an estimated 30% of irrigated lands globally are salt-affected through secondary human-induced salinization. Application of lower quality, alternative irrigation water is further threatening expansion of the areal extent of soil salinity, in addition to climate change causing increases of salt-water intrusion in coastal areas and increasing crop water requirements. The reduced availability of freshwater resources for irrigation, the continued reduction of the world’s cultivated agricultural area by land degradation and urbanization, in conjunction with a growing world population further complicates the problem seeking sustainable solutions. This scoping review prioritizes critical knowledge gaps and makes recommendations for ten priorities in soil salinity research towards a sustainable and productive agricultural system for a food-secure future world. By identifying these research priorities, we seek to accelerate enhanced research funding to bring new knowledge and innovative solutions towards mitigation of soil salinity impacts. We further want to inspire the science community to develop new directions in salinity research.

Technical Abstract: Approximately 1 billion ha of the global land surface is currently salt-affected, representing about 7% of the earth’s land surface. Whereas most of it results from natural geochemical processes, an estimated 30% of irrigated lands globally are salt-affected through secondary human-induced salinization. Application of lower quality, alternative irrigation water is further threatening expansion of the areal extent of soil salinity, in addition to climate change causing increases of salt-water intrusion in coastal areas and increasing crop water requirements. The reduced availability of freshwater resources for irrigation, the continued reduction of the world’s cultivated agricultural area by land degradation and urbanization, in conjunction with a growing world population further complicates the problem seeking sustainable solutions. This scoping review prioritizes critical knowledge gaps and makes recommendations for ten priorities in soil salinity research towards a sustainable and productive agricultural system for a food-secure future world. By identifying these research priorities, we seek to accelerate enhanced research funding to bring new knowledge and innovative solutions towards mitigation of soil salinity impacts. We further want to inspire the science community to develop new directions in salinity research.