Agricultural Sciences: Techniques and Innovations Vol. 10

Soil salinity is a major abiotic factor that severely restricts agricultural productivity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Climate change, rising temperatures, sea-level rise, poor irrigation practices and intensive agricultural activities have increased the spread of salt-affected soils, posing serious threats to global food security and the environment. Salinity stress results from the excessive build-up of soluble salts, particularly sodium and chloride ions, which impair plant water relations, nutrient uptake and metabolic activities. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the classification of salt-affected soils, with special emphasis on global and Indian soil salinisation scenarios, highlighting the extent, distribution and severity of salt-affected lands. Available data indicate that millions of hectares worldwide, including large areas in India, are affected by soil salinity, and the affected area is projected to increase under future climatic conditions. The review underscores the urgent need for sustainable soil management strategies, technological innovations and coordinated global efforts to mitigate salinity stress and ensure long-term agricultural sustainability. Mitigating this issue will also require addressing the broader challenges posed by climate change and strengthening international collaboration. As climatic projections indicate increasing aridification across many regions of the world, technological innovation and coordinated global efforts will become increasingly important for maintaining environmental sustainability and safeguarding global food security. Continued research advances, together with the development and adoption of innovative technologies, may help reduce the adverse impacts of salinity and support sustainable long-term agricultural productivity.