Author(s)

Fikadu Robi Borena^*, Jemal Mohammed Hassen

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Werer Agricultural Research Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Salt-affected soils are widespread in arid and semi-arid areas irrigated around the world, where low-quality irrigation water is common. Every minute, the world loses at least ten hectares (ha) of arable land, three hectares of which are due to salinization issues, particularly in the irrigated desert and semi-arid regions. The cost of soil salinization for agriculture is now estimated at more than $12 billion per year and is expected to increase as soils are increasingly impacted by irrigation water shortages. Twenty percent (20%) of salt-affected soils (15 million hectares) on the African continent are man-made. The total area of land affected by salinity in Ethiopia is 11,033,000 ha and ranks first in Africa. In irrigated arid and semi-arid areas of Ethiopia, particularly in the Afar region (Middle Awash), salinity is a serious problem. In the middle Awash, 2280 ha of land in Melka Sedi (500 ha), Metehara (300 ha), Kesem (145 ha), Werer State Farm (56 ha). Saline soils have a negative impact on plant development at the cellular level, due to the increased osmotic pressure in the soil solution. To reduce soil salinity, several remediation approaches have been developed, including engineering remediation and phytoremediation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the literature on the effects of soil salinity on irrigation potential in the middle Awash of Ethiopia.

Physical Remediation, Chemical Remediation, Phytoremediation, Soil Salinity

Borena, F.R. and Hassen, J.M. (2022) Impacts of Soil Salinity on Irrigation Potential: In the Case of Middle Awash, Ethiopian Review. Open Access Library Journal, 9, 1-18. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1108123.