An Examination of Sustainable Reclamation and Management Practices for Salt-Affected (Saline, Sodic, And Saline-Sodic) Soils

• Author(s): Oroduen Joshua Ahile ; Monday Akpegi Onah ; Lanre Tajudeen Ajibade; Patricia I. Ali ; Johnson Orfega Mage; Terwase Shabu ; Elizabeth Nguwanger Jeiyol; Marcellinus Akaangee Hula
• Paper ID: 1708553
• Page: 1033-1045
• Published Date: 19-05-2025
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 8 Issue 11 May-2025

Abstract

Soil salinity is one of the most serious agriculture-associated challenges of arid regions. Salt-affected soils are soils that have been adversely modified for growth of most crop plants by the presence of certain types of exchangeable ions or of soluble salts. This work fundamentally examined sustainable practices of reclaiming and managing salt-affected soils. The study revealed that various salts common to arid-region soils often consist of readily water-soluble combinations of Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ with the anions Cl- and SO42-. Several compounds found frequently in salt-affected soils are NaCl, Na2SO4, Na2CO3, NaHCO3, MgCl2, MgSO4, MgCO3, CaCl2, CaSO4.2H2O, and CaCO3. The major classes of salt-affected soils based on chemical properties are saline, sodic, saline-sodic soils. Soil salinity is basically estimated by measuring the EC (SI unit = mhos per centimetre) of the soil solution. Excess neutral soluble salts’ accumulation in soils principally harm plants by reducing soil water availability for plant use. The accumulation of excess exchangeable Na in soils is harmful to plants principally because it induces undesirable physical and chemical conditions. The reclamation of salt-affected soils consists of the removal/leaching of excess neutral soluble salts or excess exchangeable Na, or both, from such soils to the extent necessary to return the affected soils to a normal productive condition. It also involves estimating the amendment needs for the reclamation of such soils. Probably the most vital aspect of managing saline soils is to avoid excessive concentration of neutral soluble salts in the plants’ root zone. For this purpose, frequent irrigations and careful irrigation management are recommended. An additional aid in the utilization of saline soils is to grow salt-tolerant plant species. Generally, several conditions must be met to accomplish satisfactory leaching of excess soluble salts from soils - irrigation water must be available, and if reclamation of salt-affected soils is to be rapid, there should be some means of impounding the water on the soil surface to provide extensive infiltration into the soil; adequate soil drainage; etc. There are very few management tactics available for assuring satisfactory plant growth on sodic soils, including the planting of excess exchangeable Na-tolerant crops, preferably perennials that need not be re-established each year. In due time, the level of exchangeable Na in the soil can be reduced and the soil’s physical condition gradually improved if a sodic soil containing free lime is subjected to long periods of leaching without the application of a soil amendment, because soil reclamation is effected by the small quantity of Ca derived from the lime. Sometimes the incorporation of plant residues or organic manures into sodic soils is recommended as a means of improving the physical condition of sodic soils. The use of saline irrigation water can improve a sodic-soil condition, provided soluble Ca, Mg, and Na occur in proper balance and some leaching is possible to prevent the neutral soluble salts from accumulating in the soil. Besides the few treatments considered in this work, however, little short of complete reclamation can be expected to greatly change the productivity of seriously affected sodic soils. Essential considerations in the irrigation management of salt-affected soils include irrigation water quality; water quality and leaching requirements; and drainage of irrigated land/soils. Some of the benefits of soil drainage (SoD) relate to improvement in soil physical, chemical, and biological properties that contribute to plant growth functions. Usually, however, the change that most favours plants is the increased availability of oxygen to plant roots. SoD also increases soils’ infiltration capacity, which, in turn, is of particular importance in flood and soil erosion control. The study, therefore, recommended frequent irrigations, careful irrigation management, adequate soil drainage, growing of salt-tolerant plant species, and satisfactory leaching of excess soluble salts from soils as sustainable practices for reclaiming and managing saline soils. The planting of excess exchangeable Na-tolerant crops (preferably perennials that need not be re-established each year), long periods of leaching without the application of a soil amendment, application of plant residues or organic manures to sodic soils, use of saline irrigation water, and some leaching were recommended as sustainable measures of reclaiming and managing sodic soils.

Keywords

Salt-Affected Soils, Reclamation, Management, Leaching, Soil Irrigation and Drainage.

Citations

IRE Journals:
Oroduen Joshua Ahile , Monday Akpegi Onah , Lanre Tajudeen Ajibade; Patricia I. Ali , Johnson Orfega Mage; Terwase Shabu , Elizabeth Nguwanger Jeiyol; Marcellinus Akaangee Hula "An Examination of Sustainable Reclamation and Management Practices for Salt-Affected (Saline, Sodic, And Saline-Sodic) Soils" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 8 Issue 11 2025 Page 1033-1045

IEEE:
Oroduen Joshua Ahile , Monday Akpegi Onah , Lanre Tajudeen Ajibade; Patricia I. Ali , Johnson Orfega Mage; Terwase Shabu , Elizabeth Nguwanger Jeiyol; Marcellinus Akaangee Hula "An Examination of Sustainable Reclamation and Management Practices for Salt-Affected (Saline, Sodic, And Saline-Sodic) Soils" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 8(11)