ABSTRACT
This chapter considers crop responses to flooding because its occurrence likely is being heightened by global climate change. Several crop species, including wheat, sorghum, and cowpea, are more tolerant to salinity after flowering than during the vegetative stage, making possible the use of more salty irrigation water during the last part of the growing season. The chapter examines problems caused by limiting soil characteristics that are difficult to solve through management: extremes in soil texture, high soil bulk density, and high boron and aluminum levels. Boron is an essential plant nutrient, but it can become toxic to some plants when soil-water concentrations only slightly exceed those required for optimum plant growth. A loamy soil with good structure can provide good growing conditions for all crops, and its only limitation may be that the land is expensive. In contrast, soil with a high proportion of swelling clay can have poor internal drainage and aeration.
