Spatial variation of soil salinity of the southern part of the alluvial plain of Iraq and its impact on agricultural production- Dr. Sami Gulab Mansi Al-Sahlani |Pages: 188-212|

Abstract: The problem of soil salinity is considered one of the serious problems for the soil and for agricultural production in regions of the world in general, including Iraq and the southern part of the Iraqi alluvial plain. This issue has led to the abandonment of large areas of agricultural land and a decrease in agricultural production. Therefore, the research aims to study the historical development of this problem, determine the quantity and quality of salts, explain the causes of their accumulation and effects, and finally propose appropriate solutions. The first signs of salinity appeared in the research area since the middle of the third millennium BC and have worsened until the present. The soil of the region is a silty mixture with slow subsidence and moderate permeability. Its general average salinity is 13.5 mmH/cm, the E.S.P is about 18.4%, and the pH is 6.7 for all sites. The soil of river banks and basins is considered saline-alkaline, increasing towards the south and from river banks to the adjacent lowlands.