Salinization: new perspectives on a major desertification issue

doi:10.1006/jare.1993.1008

Journal of Arid Environments

Volume 24, Issue 1, January 1993, Pages 95-105

https://doi.org/10.1006/jare.1993.1008 Get rights and content

Abstract

Soil salinization limits the agricultural potential of soils in many environments and has been considered to be a significant component of desertification processes in the world's drylands. Taking the case of Africa in particular the nature of salinization processes and previous estimates of extent are considered. UNEP's GLASOD programme and the GRID database are used to reassess the problem. Secondary (human induced) salinization accounts for only 10 percent of Africa's saline soils though it does affect half the area of irrigated land. When all African dryland agricultural land is considered nutrient depletion is a far greater constraint on food production.

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Citation Excerpt :
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Regular ArticleSalinization: new perspectives on a major desertification issue

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Regular Article
Salinization: new perspectives on a major desertification issue