Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Phytoremediation of Saline Soils for Sustainable Agricultural Productivity

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Plant Adaptation and Phytoremediation

Abstract

Salinization of soils is one of the major factors which severely affect the agricultural productivity worldwide. Due to salinity, more than half a billion hectares of land are not being properly used for crop production. Thus, there is a need to search means to improve saline soils so that such soils could support highly productive and meaningful land-use systems to meet the current challenges of global food security. Although permanent solution of soil salinity problem necessitates a sound drainage system to manage the rising water table, this option, being energy- and cost-intensive cannot be employed on a large scale on vast areas. Phytoremediation or biological approach, i.e., plant-based strategies for improvement of deteriorated soils is an appropriate option. Phytoremediation of saline soils can be done by cultivating suitable plant species as well as by Exploiting the ability of plant roots to improve the dissolution and enhance levels of Ca in soil solution to efficiently remove Na from the soil cation exchange complex and leach it from the root zone. During the amelioration process, soil-aggregates stability, root proliferation, soil hydraulic properties and availability of nutrients to plants are also improved. Such improvement in soil properties facilitates cultivation of less tolerant plants, improves the environment in general, and the climatic conditions by enhancing carbon sequestration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abdel-Dayem S (2005) Understanding the social and economic dimensions of salinity. In: Proceedings of the International Salinity Forum, April 25–27, Riverside, CA, pp 1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Aganga AA, Mthetho JK, Tshwenyane S (2003) Atriplex Nummularia (Old Man Saltbush): a potential forage crop for arid regions of botswana. Pak J Nutr 2:72–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad N, Qureshi RH, Qadir M (1990) Amelioration of a calcareous saline–sodic soil by gypsum and forage plants. Land Degrad Rehabil 2:277–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akhter J, Mahmood K, Malik KA, Ahmed S, Murray R (2003) Amelioration of a saline sodic soil through cultivation of a salt–tolerant grass (Leptochloa fusca). Environ Conserv 30:168–174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Akhter J, Waheed RA, Niazi MLK, Malik KA, Naqvi SHM (1988) Moisture properties of saline sodic soil as affected by growing Kallar grass using brackish water. Rec Reveg Res 6: 299–307

    Google Scholar 

  • Akhter J, Murray R, Mahmood K, Malik KA, Ahmed S (2004) Improvement of degraded physical properties of a saline–sodic soil by reclamation with kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca). Plant Soil 258:207–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ashraf MY (2007) Variation in nutritional composition and growth performance of some halophytic species grown under saline conditions. African J Range Forage Sci 24:19–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ashraf MY, Ashraf M, Sarwar G (2005a) Physiological approaches to improving plant salt tolerance. In: Dris R (ed) Crops: growth, quality and biotechnology, ISBN: 952–91–8601–0, WFL Publisher, Helsinki, pp 1206–1227

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashraf MY, Akhtar K, Sarwar G, Ashraf M (2005b) Role of rooting system in salt tolerance potential of different guar accessions. Agron Sust Develop 25:243–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ashraf MY, Sarwar G, Ashraf M, Hussain F, Wahed RA, Iqbal MM (2006b) Growth performance and nutritional values of salt tolerant plants growing under saline envir. In: Ozturk M, Waisel Y, Khan MA, Gork G (eds) Biosaline Agriculture and Salinity Tolerance in Plants, Birkhäusar Verlag, Basel, pp 35–44

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ashraf MY, Shirazi MU, Ashraf M, Sarwar G, Khan MA (2006a) Utilization of salt–affected soils by growing some Acacia species. In: Khan MA, Weber DJ (eds) Ecophysiology of high salinity tolerance. Springer, The Netherlands, pp 289–311

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ashraf MY, Wahed RA, Bhatti AS, Sarwar G, Aslam Z (1999) Salt tolerance potential in different Brassica species, Growth studies. In: Hamdy H, Lieth H, Todorovic M, Moschenko M (eds) Halophytes uses in different climates– II. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, pp 119–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Aslam Z, Saleem M, Qureshi RH, Sandhu GR (1987) Salt tolerance of Echinochloa crusgalli. Biol Plant 29:66–69

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barrett-Lennard EG (2002) Restoration of saline land through revegetation. Agric Water Manage 53:213–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barzegar AR, Nelson RN, Oades JM, Rengasamy P (1997) Organic matter, sodicity and clay type: influence on soil aggregation. Soil Sci Soc Am J 61:1131–1137

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Batra L, Kumar A, Manna MC, Chhabra R (1997) Microbiological and chemical amelioration of alkaline soil by growing Karnal grass and gypsum application. Exp Agric 33:389–397

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer A, Black AL (1992) Organic carbon effects on available water capacity of three soil textural groups. Soil Sci Soc Am J 56:248–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhatti AS, Wieneke J (1984) Na+ and Cl– : Leaf extrusion, retranslocation and root efflux in Diplachne fusca (kallar grass) grown in NaCl. J Plant Nut 7:1233–50

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhojvaid PP, Timmer V (1998) Soil dynamics in an age sequence of Prosopis juliflora planted for sodic soil restoration in India. Forest Ecol Manag 106:181–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruce RR, Langdale GW, West LT, Miller WP (1992) Soil surface modification by biomass inputs affecting rainfall infiltration. Soil Sci Soc Am J 56:1614–1620

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caron J, Kay BD, Stone JA (1992) Improvement of structural stability of a clay loam with drying. Soil Sci Soc Am J 56:1585–1591

    Google Scholar 

  • Cassel DK, Nielsen DR (1986) Field capacity and available water capacity. In: Klute A (eds.) Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 1. 2nd edn. Agronomy Monographs, ASA and SSSA, Madison. pp 901–926

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang MA, Leghari AM (1995). Biological reclamation of calcareous saline–sodic soils by sorghum, maize and sudan grass fodders. J Drain Rec 7:30–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhry MR, Abaidullah M (1988) Economics and effectiveness of biological and chemical methods in soil reclamation. Pak J Agric Res 9:106–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Chenu C, Bissonnais YL, Arrouays D (2000) Organic matter influence on clay wettability and soil aggregate stability. Soil Sci Soc Am J 64:1479–1486

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheraghi SAM (2004) Institutional and scientific profiles of organizations working on saline agriculture in Iran. In: Taha FK, Ismail S, Jaradat A (eds) Prospects of saline agriculture in the Arabian peninsula, Proceedings of the international seminar on prospects of saline agriculture in the GCC countries, March 18–20, 2001, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, pp 399–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa JL, Prunty L, Montgomery BR, Richardson JL, Alessi RS (1991) Water quality effects on soils and alfalfa: II: Soil physical and chemical properties. Soil Sci Soc Am J 55:203–209

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crescimanno G, Iovino M, Provenzano G (1995) Influence of salinity and sodicity on soil structural and hydraulic characteristics. Soil Sci Soc Am J 59:1701–1708

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cresswell HP, Kirkegaard JA (1995) Subsoil amelioration by plant roots: The process and the evidence. Aust J Soil Res 33:221–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Czarnes S, Hallett PD, Bengough AG, Young IM (2000) Root and microbial-derived mucilages affect soil structure and water transport. Eur J Soil Sci 51:435–443

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darwish OH, Persaud N, Martens DC (1995) Effect of long–term application of animal manure on physical properties of three soils. Plant Soil 176:289–295

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dormaar JF (1988) Effect of plant roots on chemical and biochemical properties of surrounding discrete soil zones. Can J Soil Sci 68:233–242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garduno MA (1993) Kochia: a new alternative for forage under high salinity conditions of Mexico. In: Lieth H, Al Masoom A (eds) Towards the rational use of high salinity tolerant plants, vol. 1, Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, pp 459–464

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Garg VK (1998) Interaction of tree crops with a sodic soil environment: potential for rehabilitation of degraded environments. Land Degrad Dev 9:81–93

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Glauser R, Doner HE, Paul EA (1988) Soil aggregate stability as a function of particle size in sludge treated soils. Soil Sci 146:37–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glenn E, Hicks N, Riley J, Swingle S (1996) Seawater irrigation of halophytes for animal feed. In: Chouhr-Allah R, Malcolm CV, Hamdy A (eds) Halophytes and biosaline agriculture. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 221–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorham A, WynJones RG, McDonnel E (1985) Some mechanism of salt tolerance in crop plants. Plant Soil 89:15–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grieve CM, Suarez DL (1997) Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.): A halophytic crop for drainage water reuse systems. Plant Soil 192:277–283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta RK, Singh RR, Abrol IP (1989) Influence of simultaneous changes in sodicity and pH on the hydraulic conductivity of an alkali soil under rice culture. Soil Sci 147:28–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haynes RJ, Francis GS (1993) Changes in microbial biomass C, soil carbohydrate composition and aggregate stability induced by growth of selected crop and forage species under field conditions. J Soil Sci 44:665–675

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Helalia AM, El-Amir S, Abou-Zeid ST, Zaghloul KF (1992) Bio-reclamation of saline-sodic soil by Amshot grass in northern Egypt. Soil Tillage Res 22:109–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helyar KR, Poster WM (1989) Soil acidification, its measurement and processes involved. In: Robson AD (ed) Soil acidity and plant growth, Academic Press, Sydney, pp 61–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Hussain T, Abbas MA, Javaid T (1994) Efficient utilization of high RSC waters through biological approaches. J. Drain Reclam 6:46–49

    Google Scholar 

  • ICARDA (2002) Marginal quality water: A solution to fresh water scarcity. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Aleppo, Syria

    Google Scholar 

  • Ilyas M, Qureshi RH, Qadir M (1995) Physical and chemical properties of saline–sodic soils in the Indus Plain. J Drain Rec 7:55–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan MA, Ungar IA, Showalter AM, Dewald HD (1998) NaCl–induced accumulation of glycinebetaine in four subtropical halophytes from Pakistan. Physiol Plant 102:487–492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kiem R, Koegel-Knabner I (2003) Contribution of lignin and polysaccharides to the refractory carbon pool in C–depleted arable soils. Soil Biol Biochem 35:101–118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnapillai M, Ranjan RS (2005) Evaluating the phytoremediation potential of Atriplex patula on salt contaminated soil. Can Soc Eng Agric Food Biol System, Paper No. 05–052

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A, Abrol IP (1984) Studies on the reclaiming effect of Karnal–grass and para–grass grown in a highly sodic soil. Indian J Agric Sci 54:189–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Kushiev H, Noble AD, Abdullaev I, Toshbekov U (2005) Remediation of abandoned saline soils using Glycyrrhiza glabra: A study from the hungry steppe of central Asia. Int J Agric Sustain 3:102–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Läuchli A, Grattan SR (2007) Plant growth and development under salinity stress. In: Jenks MA, Hasegawa PM, Jain SM (eds) Advances in Molecular Breeding Toward Drought and Salt Tolerant Crops, Springer, Dordrecht, Netherlands, pp 285–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Malik KA, Aslam Z, Naqvi M (1986) Kallar Grass: A Plant for Saline Land. Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Google Scholar 

  • Marschner H (1995) Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, 2nd edn. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Meek BD, DeTar WR, Rolph D, Rechel ER, Carter LM (1990) Infiltration rate as affected by an alfalfa and no–till cotton cropping system. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 54:505–508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meek BD, Rechel ER, Carter LM, DeTar WR (1992) Bulk density of a sandy loam: Traffic, tillage and irrigation–method effects. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 56:562–565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miyazaki T (1996) Bulk density dependence of air entry suctions and saturated hydraulic conductivities of soils. Soil Sci 161:484–490

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson PN, Barzegar AR, Oades JM (1997) Sodicity and clay type: Influence on decomposition of added organic matter. Soil Sci Soc Am J 61:1052–1057

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson PN, Ladd JN, Oades JM (1996) Decomposition of 14C labelled plant material in a salt–affected soil. Soil Biol Biochem 28:433–441

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oster JD, Shainberg I, Abrol IP (1999) Reclamation of salt affected soils. In: Skaggs RW, van Schilfgaarde J (eds) Agricultural drainage, ASA–CSSA–SSSA, Madison, pp 659–691

    Google Scholar 

  • Parida AK, Das AB (2005) Salt tolerance and salinity effects on plants: A review. Ecotoxicol Environ Safe 60:324–349

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perfect E, Kay BD, vanLoon WKP, Sheard RW, Pojasok T (1990) Factors influencing soil structural stability within a growing season. Soil Sci Soc Am J 54:173–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pitman MG, Läuchli A (2002) Global impact of salinity and agricultural ecosystems. In: Lauchli A, Luttge U (eds) Salinity: Environment–Plant–Molecules, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, pp 3–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Qadir M, Oster JD (2002) Vegetative bioremediation of calcareous sodic soils: History, mechanisms, and evaluation. Irrig Sci 21:91–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qadir M, Oster JD (2004) Crop and irrigation management strategies for saline sodic soils and waters aimed at environmentally sustainable agriculture. Sci Total Environ 323:1–19

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qadir M, Qureshi RH, Ahmad N (1997) Nutrient availability in a calcareous saline–sodic soil during vegetative bioremediation. Arid Soil Res Rehabil 11:343–352

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qadir M, Noble AD, Schubert S, Thomas RJ, Arslan A (2006) Sodicity induced land degradation and its sustainable management: Problems and prospects. Land Degrad Dev 17:661–676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Querejeta JI, Roldan A, Alabaladejo J, Castillo V (2000) Soil physical properties and moisture content affected by site preparation in the afforestation of semi–arid rangeland. Soil Sci Soc Am J 64:2087–2097

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qureshi RH, Nawaz S, Mahmood T (1993) Performance of selected tree species under saline–sodic field conditions in Pakistan. In: Lieth H, Al Masoom A (eds) Towards the rational use of high salinity tolerant plants, vol. 1, Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, pp 259–269

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rao DLN, Ghai SK (1985) Urease and dehydrogenase activity of alkali and reclaimed soils. Aust J Soil Res 2:661–665

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao DLN, Pathak H (1996) Ameliorative influence of organic matter on biological activity of salt–affected soils. Arid Soil Res Rehabil 10:311–319

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ried JB, Goss MJ (1981) Effect of living roots of different plant species on the aggregate stability of two arable soils. J Soil Sci 32:521–541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robbins CW (1986) Sodic calcareous soil reclamation as affected by different amendments and crops. Agron J 78:916–920

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sahrawat KL (2003) Importance of inorganic carbon in sequestering carbon in soils of the dry regions. Curr Sci 84:864–865

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahrawat KL (2004) Organic matter accumulation in submerged soils. Adv Agron 81:169–201

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sahrawat KL, Bhattacharyya T, Wani SP, Chandran P, Ray SK, Pal DK, Padmaja KV (2005) Long–term lowland rice and arable cropping effects on carbon and nitrogen status of some semi–arid tropical soils. Curr Sci 89:2159–2163

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sandhu GR, Qureshi RH (1986) Salt–affected soils of Pakistan and their utilization. Reclam Reveg Res 5:105–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Sariyildiz T, Anderson JM (2003) Interaction between litter quality, decomposition and soil fertility: A laboratory study. Soil Biol Biochem 35:391–399

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shekhawat VPS, Kumar A, Neumann KH (2006) Bio-recalmation of secondary salinized soils using halophytes. In: Ozturk M, Waisel Y, Khan MA, Gork G (eds) Biosaline Agriculture and Salinity Tolerance in Plants, Birkhäusar Verlag, Basel, Boston, Berlin, pp 35–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh GB, Gill HS (1990) Raising trees in alkali soils. Wasteland News 6:15–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Six J, Conant RT, Pau EA, Paustian K (2002) Stabilization mechanisms of soil organic matter: Implications for C–saturation of soils. Plant Soil 241:155–176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tanji KK (2002) Salinity in the soil environment. In: Läuchli A, Lüttge U (eds) Salinity: environment–plant–molecules, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp 21–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Tisdal JM, Oades JM (1980) The effect of crop rotation on aggregation in a red–brown earth. Aust J Soil Res 18:423–433

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tisdall JM (1991) Fungal hyphae and structural stability of soil. Aust J Soil Res 29:729–743

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torn MS, Trumbore SE, Chadwick OA, Vitousek PM, Hendricks DM (1997) Mineral control of soil organic carbon storage and turnover. Nature 389:170–173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toy TJ, Shay D (1987) Comparison of some soil properties on natural and reclaimed hillslopes. Soil Sci 143:264–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • US Salinity Laboratory Staff (1954) Saline and Alkali Soils. USDA Agric. Handbook No. 60. U.S. Govt. Print. Office, Washington, p 158

    Google Scholar 

  • WÅ‚odarczyk T, Stepniewski W, Brzezinska M (2002) Dehydrogenase activity, redox potential, and emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide from Cambisols under flooding conditions. Biol Fertil Soils 36:200–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yensen NP, Biel KY (2006) Soil remediation via salt conduction and the halophytes of halosynthesis and photoprotection. In: Khan MA, Weber DJ (eds) Ecophysiology of high salinity tolerance. Springer, The Netherlands, pp 313–344

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Yunusa IAM, Newton PJ (2003) Plants for amelioration of subsoil constraints and hydrological control: the primer–plant concept. Plant Soil 257:261–281

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao KF (1991) Desalinization of saline soils by Suaeda salsa. Plant Soil 135:303–305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    M. Yasin Ashraf, Khalid Mahmood, Javed Akhter & F. Hussain

  2. Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

    Muhammad Ashraf

  3. Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Muhammad Ashraf

  4. Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies, Islamyia University, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

    M. Arshad

Authors
  1. M. Yasin Ashraf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Muhammad Ashraf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Khalid Mahmood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Javed Akhter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. F. Hussain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. Arshad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to M. Yasin Ashraf , Muhammad Ashraf , Khalid Mahmood , Javed Akhter , F. Hussain or M. Arshad .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Facutlty of Sciences, Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    M. Ashraf

  2. Centre for Environmental Studies, Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Ege University, Fen Fakultesi A Blok 2. Kat, Bornova, Izmir, 35100, Turkey

    M. Ozturk

  3. Dept. Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 30840, Pakistan

    M. S. A. Ahmad

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ashraf, M.Y., Ashraf, M., Mahmood, K., Akhter, J., Hussain, F., Arshad, M. (2010). Phytoremediation of Saline Soils for Sustainable Agricultural Productivity. In: Ashraf, M., Ozturk, M., Ahmad, M. (eds) Plant Adaptation and Phytoremediation. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9370-7_15

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation