Irrigation salinity – causes and impacts

Summary

Salinity is the accumulation of salts (often dominated by sodium chloride) in soil and water to levels that impact on human and natural assets (e.g. plants, animals, aquatic ecosystems, water supplies, agriculture and infrastructure).

Irrigation salinity occurs in irrigated landscapes.

Topics covered in this Primefact includes:

• Primary and secondary salinity
• Salt sources
• The hydrological cycle
• The groundwater system
• Causes of irrigation salinity
• The effect of salt on plants and soil
• Impacts of irrigation salinity