ABSTRACT
Salinity in soils affects about 7% of the world’s total land area (1). Of the cultivated land, 23% is saline. Furthermore, about 17% of the world’s cropland is under irrigation, but irrigated agriculture contributes well over 30% of the total agricultural production (2). More importantly, secondary salinization in irrigated lands is of major concern for global food production as well. Currently, about 20% of irrigated land in world average has suffered from secondary salinization and 50% of irrigation schemes are affected. There is also a dangerous trend of a 10% per year increase in the saline area throughout the world (3). In addition, salinity is a problem for agriculture because few crop species are adapted to saline conditions.
