What are the common problems or difficulties with the use of saline water for irrigation?
Saline water reduces plant growth, making irrigation with it risky if not managed properly. With time, salts carried in saline water may accumulate in the root zone to concentrations high enough to affect crop growth by reducing availability of water. Just 1 acre-foot of irrigation water of moderately saline quality (EC = 2 dS/m – the upper end of suitability for irrigation water) will introduce 1.8 tons of salt per acre of land. Soluble salts do not leach as readily in fine textured soils as in sandy soils; therefore, it is critical to add enough water to meet crop water requirements and to maintain net downward movement of water through the soil.
