ABSTRACT
Profitable exploitation of salt-affected soils requires, depending upon the nature of problem, availability of good quality irrigation water, use of amendments, provision of drainage, and an intensive land management system. For utilisation and reclamation of these lands, a promising alternative to common grain production is to bring them under a system of trees alone or in association with grasses. Proper understanding the soil problem is a prerequisite for successful plantation of salt-affected soils. Although the soil may look moist and have enough water in many areas because of shallow water table, irrigation with good quality water is a must, mainly to leach down the salts from the rootzone and thereby provide a stress-free environment. In arid saline soils while in waterlogged saline soils or saline soils with shallow water table, salinity, poor aeration, and excess moisture affect simultaneously and do not allow them to establish and grow normally.
