Strategic Considerations of Efficient Irrigation and Salinity Control on Hetao Plain in Inner Mongolia

Hetao Plain, located in the arid region of China with many favorite natural conditions, is of importance in agriculture, where there is no agriculture without irrigation with water from the Yellow River. Long time excessive irrigation has caused secondary salinity problem. With ever increasing national concern of water shortage, allowed intake of water from the Yellow River would be cut down while cultivated land is expanding under social and economical influences. Water saving in agriculture and high water demand for salinity leaching as in the traditional practices will be a contradiction to be technically solved. Modern irrigation methods, such as sprinkler, drip, micro sprinkler have difficulties in use, both technically and/or economically while surface irrigation methods will reminder the main ways of water application in field for years to come. Appropriate scheduling for efficient irrigation and measures for controlling water table will be the keys to the answer to the problems.