11/02/2026
Drylands and Saline Soils
What are drylands
Dry, semi-arid and dry sub humid areas are covered by 40% of earths land and defined as low precipitation and high evaporation.
Saline soils
Soils having high soluble salts concentration, restricted water uptake, white crust and improper irrigation. Unfertile, dry, sandy, low water holding capacity and unfavorable for vegetables crops, ornamental and agronomic.
Key methods for reclaiming saline lands into productive
• Chemicals
Use of gypsum is necessary along with sulphuric acid and calcium for improving soil structure and other soil properties.
• Leaching
Salt reducing technique from lands by heavy irrigation or rain water. Through this method salinity from soils removed by frequently applying this method of leaching.
• Deep Plough
For removing hard pan, softening of soil and improving soil fertility by deep ploughing, and by tilling to a depth of 60cm or more for best results.
• Salt Tolerant Plants
Salt tolerant plants will absorb salts and reduce waterlogging by lowering the water table
• Mulching
For maintaining soil moisture content add different kinds of mulch on the upper layer of soil like plastic, organic manure, and straw.
• Drip Irrigation system
Most effective way for irrigation in saline and drylands is drip irrigation on beds.
• Deep Vertical Rotary Tillage (DVRT)
It breaks the plough plan without upsetting soil surface and its extremely effective way.
Procedure for Soil Reclamation
Deep ploughing with Chisel plough and Mouldboard ploughs to remove hardpan from soils and do proper tilling for loosening soil.
Adding gypsum, sulphuric acid or sulphur along with green manure and compost.
Increasing soil moisture content for sowing any crop
Start cultivation with Sorghum and soybean for soil nitrogen fixation and reducing salt accumulation in the land.
Irrigation system should be drip irrigation
Keeping in mind all mentioned above key points while starting any kind of cultivation in saline soils and follow all ways properly to have required yield and land reclamation