Desalinization of saline‐ sodic soils via leaching

The reclamation of saline ‐ sodic soils is an important issue in agriculture and agronomy programs. In arid and semiarid areas, rainfall is not sufficient for leaching of salts from root zone and excess of soluble salts in the soil root zone can reduce water uptake of the plant. This is due to the decrease in the osmotic potential of soil solution and also degradation of soil structure because of sodium which could be toxic to the plant. In this field study reclamation of saline‐sodic soils at four stations in Minab, south of Iran was investigated. The experimental design of the study was double‐ring. The leaching was investigated up to 100 cm depth of soil. As the leaching process continued, soluble salts were washed away from soils profile of the agronomy programs and the salinity of the soil surface layer were reduced to a level suitable for cultivation of salt tolerant and semitolerant plants.