Waterlogging and Salinity Management for Sustainable Irrigated Agriculture. I: Overview, Implication, and Plant Response

Abstract

The expansion of irrigated agriculture is required to feed the ever-increasing world population. On the other hand, the expansion of irrigated agriculture causes waterlogging and salinization problems in semiarid and arid regions where more than three-fourths of the world’s population reside. These problems of irrigated agriculture have direct and indirect effects on crop growth and yield. When waterlogging and salinization occur together, the harm to plant growth and yield is more serious and usually the decline in the yield is much higher at the higher salinity levels. An overview of the various aspects of waterlogging and salinity problems and their impact on the sustainability of irrigated agriculture is provided in this paper. Past research is grouped into the mechanism of waterlogging and salinity, plant response to waterlogging and salinity, and the effects of salinity and waterlogging on crop yield. Conclusions are presented that could be useful to the stakeholders.