Management of salt mobilisation in the irrigated landscape – A review of selected irrigation regions

Abstract

Changed land use and irrigation has increased recharge to the groundwater system in irrigated areas worldwide. This altered hydraulic regime increases salt discharge by either mobilising stored salt or increasing salt loading from irrigation application. The salt is transported to surface drainage and river systems through the following processes; surf ace runoff (salt washoff), groundwater seepage, engineered sub-surface drainage and irrigation channel outfall. This paper has reviewed previous studies of salt mobilisation processes and effectiveness of management strategies to reduce the impact of irrigation areas on downstream water quality.Salt mobilisation is highly variable between irri..