Phytoamelioration of the Salt-Affected Soils Through Halophytes

In recent years scarcity of fresh water and the secondary salinization of agricultural lands are becoming much more challenging worldwide. The use of these salt-affected marginal lands for crop production is an increasing trend as they are valuable resource that cannot be neglected and will be crucial for ensuring sufficient food to a burgeoning population. The present global scenario is also a pointer to the urgent need for bringing salt-affected marginal lands under cultivation. Previously reclamation of salt-affected soils has been predominately achieved through the application of chemical amendments, although the costs of these chemical amendments like gypsum or pyrite for reclamation of alkali soils have increased prohibitively over the past two decades because of competing demands from industries and reductions in government subsidies for their agricultural use. Therefore, calls for phytoamelioration of degraded lands through growing halophytic crops/grasses/trees seem to be one of the alternative methods of reclamation of these lands. Additionally alkali soils of India and Pakistan contain high levels of insoluble calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which can be made soluble by adding acid or acid formers. It could be best done by enhancing biological activity either through the addition of organic matter or cultivation of halophytes. Thus phytoamelioration is one of the more effective approaches for resource-poor farmers and community-based reclamation management of moderately saline-sodic and sodic soils. Currently it has become viable approach in many parts of the world including India.