Saline Irrigation of Vegetables

Saline Irrigation

• Saline irrigation is irrigating plants using salty water. The salt content in saline irrigation water depends where the irrigation occurs and the amount of salt in the water. In saline irrigation experiments, scientists control the salinity of irrigation water. In arid regions of Egypt, the salinity level of in irrigation depends upon salt content of the water source. No saline irrigation water contains salt levels approaching the same levels found in ocean water, where 1 cubic foot of water contains 2.2 pounds of salt.

Purpose

• Experiments in saline irrigation determine new ways of using water supplies that maximize their effectiveness for crop production. As fresh water supplies grow increasingly scarce in regions like Africa, eastern Asia and even parts of California, scientists hope to develop methods of effectively using saline to irrigate plants. Using saline for irrigation helps preserve fresh water for human consumption, while also providing the possibility of recycling irrigation water.

Effectiveness

• Saline irrigation experiments, such as those conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Research Centre of Egypt, show similar results. Vegetables, such as fennel, spinach, potatoes, onions, Swiss chard, salad greens, mustard greens, bok choy, radicchio, endives, kale and tatsoi, grow under saline irrigation but are smaller than when irrigated with fresh water. The higher the water’s salt content, the smaller the resultant vegetables. In areas where saline irrigation is necessary, the practice works if properly done, according to the American and Egyptian studies.

Irrigation Type

• Saline irrigation experiments, such as those conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Research Centre of Egypt, show similar results. Vegetables, such as fennel, spinach, potatoes, onions, Swiss chard, salad greens, mustard greens, bok choy, radicchio, endives, kale and tatsoi, grow under saline irrigation but are smaller than when irrigated with fresh water. The higher the water’s salt content, the smaller the resultant vegetables. In areas where saline irrigation is necessary, the practice works if properly done, according to the American and Egyptian studies.