A SURVEY ON THE SALINIZATION CHARACTER AND THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE OF SALINE SOILS IN HETAO REGION

The character of soil salinization and the existing practice of saline soil management in Hetao Region were defined in this paper. As the accumulation of salts by injudicious practice of irrigation and failing to provide for adequate drainage is alarming in this area of high evaporation rate and shallow groundwater level, it is recommended that properirrigation practice and sufficient drainage are indispensible to leach out excessive salts while special tillage practice can also help to reduce the build-up of salts in soils and to enlighten the deleterious effects of salinity on crops in early spring. However, succes ful application of these practices needs fundamental and comprehensive investigations on soil moisture-salt movement in relation to irrigation, drainage, tillage and environments, and pilot experimental plots to provide data for design criterion for the drainage system.