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Chapter 11: Problem 13

What is meant by salinization, and what are its consequences? How does irrigation cause salinization?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Salinization is the process by which salts accumulate in the soil, reducing soil fertility and making it unsuitable for agriculture. Irrigation contributes to salinization as the water used often has dissolved salts left behind on the soil surface when it evaporates. Deep irrigation can also raise the water table, causing salt-rich groundwater to contribute to salinization.

Step by step solution

01

What is salinization

Salinization can be defined as the process by which water-soluble salts accumulate in the soil. This happens naturally over time due to the weathering of minerals. However, human activities such as irrigation and deforestation can accelerate the process.
02

Consequences of salinization

The buildup of salts in soil reduces the soil's fertility and can make it unsuitable for agriculture, affecting food production. Additionally, high salt concentrations can also be toxic to some plants. Apart from its impact on agriculture, salinization can also affect the quality of groundwater and surface water resources, making them unsuitable for consumption or irrigation.
03

Irrigation and salinization

Irrigation, if not managed properly, can contribute to salinization, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. This is because water used in irrigation often contains dissolved salts. When the water evaporates, the salts are left behind on the soil surface. Over time, this can lead to a buildup of salts, causing salinization. Furthermore, deep irrigation can also lead to the rise of the water table, bringing salt-rich groundwater closer to the soil surface and contributing to salinization.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Describe the content and physical structure of the soils that best fulfill the needs of most crop plants.

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