Irrigation with saline water: effects on crop morphological and physiological aspects and yield response

Salinity is a major environmental stress that limits crop productivity and the problem is increasingly severe in many parts of the world. Incorrect management of irrigation technique, particularly if carried out with saline water, can be responsible for salinization of cultivated lands. Brackish water use may cause soil chemical and physical fertility degradation and toxic, osmotic and oxidative injuries to the plants. In this paper, plant response to salt stress is reviewed, particularly with regard to physiological, yield and quality aspects. Salt tolerance differs greatly depending on crop species, genotype, environmental conditions and agronomic practices. Salinity can considerably affect yield quality parameters by improving some of them (e.g. taste, dry matter, sugars, acidity) and worsening others (such as fruit size and shelf life). Finally, some physiological disorders are reported, often attributable to Ca2+ deficiency due to salt stress in the edible parts, which cause quality deterioration compromising marketability. Saline water can be used, sometimes conveniently, in agriculture by selecting suitable crops and modifying cropping technique, but great care must be taken in order to avoid soil fertility degradation.