Contributed articles.

This book presents systematic scientific appraisal, classification, genesis and viable technologies for reclamation and management of salt-affected soils and marginal quality waters across India and several other countries. Nature, solubility and geo-chemical mobility of salts have been provided as basis for the development of alkali and saline soils and groundwaters under specific agro-hydro-ecological regions. Chemical amendment (gypsum) based reclamation technology of alkali soils and related pre and post-reclamation water, nutrient and crop management interventions, including re-sodification issues have been comprehensively addressed. Features and operational guidelines of surface, subsurface, vertical and bio-drainage systems have been thoroughly discussed; likewise, amelioration of irrigation induced saline soils in inland and coastal regions and preventive measures for control of salinity and waterlogging along with environmental trade-offs. Practical approaches for amelioration and judicious use of saline, alkali, high SAR- saline and waste waters have been synthesized for different cropping and agro- forestry systems. Emerging issues on use of industrial by-products as amendments for alkali soils, physiological aspects of salt resistance, anatomical and biochemical mechanism of submergence tolerance, specific ion effects of poor quality waters, crop diversification, groundwater recharge, rejuvenation of tsunami affected coastal soils, safety against occurrence of poisonous gas in tube well pits, paddy straw burning and others have been adequately deliberated upon. Combining scientific principles with field experiences, the book is expected to serve as a useful knowledge base for research workers, teachers and students of soil science, agronomy, plant breeding, forestry, irrigation engineering, extension workers, environmentalists and planners associated with reclamation and management of salt affected soils and waters on sustainable basis in developing and developed countries.

Origin,classification and distribution of salt-affected soils;saline soils and their management;sodic soils and their management;salinity problems of the dryland regions;water quality and crop production;socio-economic considerations in reclamation and management of salt-affectedsoils;

This handbook has been prepared for the training workshop on innovative methods of amelioration and use of salt-affected soils, which takes place in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in September 2017. This workshop is conducted within the framework of the Implementation Plan of the Eurasian Soil Partnership, which is a sub-regional affiliation of the Global Soil Partnership. The main goals of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) and Regional Soil Partnerships (RSPs) include the development of global and regional plans of action for the sustainable management and monitoring of limited soil resources as a key element, as well as the maintenance of food security and ecological services of soils. The RSPs rely on the existing regional networks that connect the national and local networks, partners, projects and measures to ensure that the interests of all member countries of the partnership are taken into account. A RSP should give directives for the development of regional targets, priorities and ìrequred mechanisms of implementation and also undertake regular assessments of progress in reaching goals and accomplishing the tasks. The Eurasian Region covers Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Caucasus and includes the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. The Eurasian Region is diverse in terms of climatic conditions, soils, flora and fauna, land use and human activities. Soil degradation is a serious problem within this region, with its most destructive consequences including salinization, erosion, loss of soil organic matter, nutrients and biodiversity as well as soil compaction. Soil salinization presents a serious challenge that requires co-ordination between countries that share common water and land resources. International co-operation is also needed to attract and manage investment into water and land resources. It should be emphasized that salinization is both the cause and the result of other agricultural problems. Combating salinization should, together with other measures for achieving the sustainable intensification of agriculture, be considered as a basis for food security..

This important volume, Soil Salinity Management in Agriculture, addresses the crucial issue of soil salinity of potential farmland and provides a comprehensive picture of the saline environment and plant interactions, along with management and reclamation methods and policies. With contributions from researchers from the fields of agricultural chemistry, soil science, biotechnology, agronomy, environmental sciences, and plant breeding and genetics, the volume emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach.

The papers assembled here cover topics such as technological advances in soil salinity mapping and monitoring, management and reclamation of salt-affected soils, use of marginal quality water for crop production, salt-tolerance mechanisms in plants, biosaline agriculture and agroforestry, microbiological interventions for marginal soils, opportunities and challenges in using marginal waters, and soil and water management in irrigated agriculture.

Food production on present and future saline soils deserves the world’s attention particularly because food security is a pressing issue, millions of hectares of degraded soils are available worldwide, freshwater is becoming increasingly scarce, and the global sea-level rise threatens food production in fertile coastal lowlands. Future of Sustainable Agriculture in Saline Environments aims to showcase the global potential of saline agriculture. The book covers the essential topics, such as policy and awareness, soil management, future crops, and genetic developments, all supplemented by case studies that show how this knowledge has been applied. It offers an overview of current research themes and practical cases focused on enhancing food production on saline lands. FEATURES Describes the critical role of the revitalization of salt-degraded lands in achieving sustainability in agriculture on a global scale Discusses practical solutions toward using drylands and delta areas threatened by salinity for sustainable food production Presents strategies for adaptation to climate change and sea-level rise through food production under saline conditions Addresses the diverse aspects of crop salt tolerance and microbiological associations Highlights the complex problem of salinity and waterlogging and safer management of poor-quality water, supplemented by case studies A PDF version of this book is available for free in Open Access at www.taylorfrancis.com. It has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.