salinization
Soil becoming salty
Salinization is the accumulation of salt in soil or water, typically rendering land unsuitable for agriculture.
It occurs naturally in arid regions where evaporation concentrates minerals, but irrigation often accelerates the process—water evaporates, salt stays behind.
Salinization has degraded millions of acres of farmland worldwide.
The verb is salinize.
Artificial water supply for agriculture
- waterloggingSoil oversaturated with moisture
- overwateringExcess plant hydration
- farmingCultivating land for food
- arableFit for cultivation
evapotranspiration · groundwater · leaching · fallow · reclamation
Mildly salty water
- tidalOf sea rhythms
- estuaryTidal mixing zone
- saltmarshCoastal wetland with brackish water
- mangroveTidal shrub with exposed roots
aquifer · groundwater · coastal · lagoon · deltaic · subsidence · pumping · ocean
Increasing pH chemically
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
- claypanDense impermeable soil layer
- hardpanImpenetrable subsurface stratum
- gypsumHydrated calcium sulfate
fertility · pH · texture · structure · calcification · compaction · remediation · topsoil
Liquid turning to gas
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- dissolutionBreaking up completely
- saturationState of complete permeation
- crystallizationForming ordered solid structure
ion-exchange · osmosis · wicking · efflorescence · hydrology · semiarid
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- wetlandsWater-saturated terrain
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
- seagrassSaltwater flowering plant
phytoplankton · fauna · flora · wildlife · invertebrates · eutrophication · restoration
Purification via vaporization
- filtrationSeparating solids from liquids
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
- membraneThin tissue sheet
- potableSafe for ingestion
irrigation
Artificial water supply for agriculture
- waterloggingSoil oversaturated with moisture
- overwateringExcess plant hydration
- farmingCultivating land for food
arable · evapotranspiration · groundwater · leaching · fallow · reclamation
brackish
Mildly salty water
mangrove · aquifer · groundwater · coastal · lagoon · deltaic · subsidence · pumping · ocean · shoreline
alkalization
Increasing pH chemically
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
- claypanDense impermeable soil layer
- hardpanImpenetrable subsurface stratum
gypsum · fertility · pH · texture · structure · calcification · compaction · remediation · topsoil
evaporation
Liquid turning to gas
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- dissolutionBreaking up completely
- saturationState of complete permeation
crystallization · ion-exchange · osmosis · wicking · efflorescence · hydrology · semiarid
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- wetlandsWater-saturated terrain
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
seagrass · phytoplankton · fauna · flora · wildlife · invertebrates · eutrophication · restoration
distillation
Purification via vaporization
- filtrationSeparating solids from liquids
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
- membraneThin tissue sheet
- environmental harmair pollution, water pollution, pollution, oil spills, acid rain
- Natural Processesphotosynthesis, decomposition, evaporation, erosion, carbon cycle
- environmental threatshabitat loss, deforestation, pollution, climate change, invasive species
- farm problemssoil erosion, soil depletion, water pollution, fertilizer runoff, overgrazing
- land changeslandslides, earthquake, erosion, landslide, earthquakes
- soil conservationerosion control, cover crops, terracing, strip cropping, conservation tillage
salinizationdesalinization
Removing salt from water
desalination · freshening · salt removal · desalting · salt reduction
salinizationremediation
Act of correcting faults
reclamation · soil restoration · detoxification · purification · soil amendment
salt, salty, salted, saltwater, unsalted, saline, salting, saltiness, salinity