Where is salinity a serious environmental problem?
In NSW, there are many local, intermediate and regional groundwater systems. The local and intermediate systems predominate where dryland salinity is a problem, particularly in the tablelands and slopes. Regional systems are present in the large riverine plains to the west.
Why is salinity a problem in Australia?
Australia’s soils are susceptible to degradation by agricultural activities. European farming practices, which replaced trees or other deep-rooted native vegetation with shallow-rooted crops and pastures that use less water, has resulted in rising water tables which can cause dryland salinity.
Where is salinization a problem?
The Imperial Valley in California, formerly productive agricultural lands in South America, China, India, Iraq, and many other regions throughout the world are all facing the threat of losing fertile land because of salinization.
What is the Australian salinity crisis?
Dryland salinity in Western Australia’s agricultural areas is now estimated to directly affect up to 2 million hectares and cost over half a billion dollars a year in lost agricultural production.
Why is soil salinity a problem?
The problem of soil salinization is a scourge for agricultural productivity worldwide. Crops grown on saline soils suffer on an account of high osmotic stress, nutritional disorders and toxicities, poor soil physical conditions and reduced crop productivity.
What is the Australian government doing about salinity?
Major programs. The Australian Government has supported salinity management through programs such as the National Dryland Salinity Program (1993-2004) and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (2001-2008).
Why is salinity a problem in agriculture?
Salinity affects production in crops, pastures and trees by interfering with nitrogen uptake, reducing growth and stopping plant reproduction. Some ions (particularly chloride) are toxic to plants and as the concentration of these ions increases, the plant is poisoned and dies.
What is Australia doing about salinity?