Salt-Affected Soil Resources in China

Abstract

In developing countries, arable lands are decreasing as populations increase. Accordingly, a great amount of forests, grasslands, and wetlands are being exploited through intensive cultivation and management. This leads to damage of the original vegetation and soil structure and causes soil salinization. It is estimated that the total area of saline land is increasing across the globe by 1–1.5 million ha every year. In China, where the causes and characteristics of saline land can be divided into five regions (as will be explained in this chapter), there is little doubt that the current situation regarding salt-affected land is highly critical. The country has some of the highest populated lands in the world, and as population continues to grow, accompanied by ongoing socioeconomic development and increasing levels of urbanization, more and more cultivated lands are being transformed into other uses, placing an even heavier burden on the remaining farmland. Meanwhile, soil degradation is worsening due to anthropogenic environmental impacts and intensive management. Thus, it is vital to reclaim and remedy affected land—especially salt-affected land—throughout the country. The key to dealing with this issue is to operate a sensible land-use system, restore plant communities, and improve soil structure.