Evaluating soil salinity and its impact on agricultural crop productivity (wheat as a model)

Abstract:

This research aims to achieve a set of scientific and applied objectives, summarized as follows: analyzing soil salinity in terms of its causes and associated chemical and physical properties; evaluating the impact of salinity on the growth stages and productivity of wheat; and studying relatively salt-tolerant wheat varieties under specific environmental conditions. The research yielded the following results:
1.    The comparison showed that accurately determining the extent of the problem requires combining several methods. While electrical conductivity (EC) is characterized by accuracy and speed, remote sensing techniques emerge as an ideal option for covering large areas and analyzing them immediately. However, biological monitoring remains the most realistic field tool for measuring the actual plant response.
2.    The results demonstrated that wheat begins to be significantly affected when salinity exceeds the threshold of 4 dS/m, at which point a gradual decline in production begins. The risk reaches its peak when salinity ranges between 8 and 12 dS/m, causing significant growth damage, leading to near-complete loss of productivity when the threshold exceeds 12 dS/m.
3.    The study revealed genetic variations that offer a glimmer of hope for overcoming this crisis. Varieties such as "Salima" in Morocco, "Experimental 4" in Syria, and "Abu Ghraib 3" in Iraq demonstrated high to moderate tolerance to salinity. The "Sham 6" variety, supported by the ACSAD Center, also emerged as a strategic option for areas with moderate salinity.