Dryland salinity

Soil salinity refers to the presence of dissolved salts within the soil profile and water table. Changes in land use and management at a regional scale can cause the water table to rise and result in the accumulation of salts within the root zone and on the soil surface.

Increasing soil salinity directly affects the chemical nature of the soil, subsequently affecting the biological function and physical structure. This can severely limit plant growth which in turn leads to degradation issues such as exposure to wind erosion.

The rate and extent of dryland salinity within some areas of the Murraylands and Riverland region has increased dramatically in recent years.

For more information refer to the below links for reports and fact sheets on soil salinity.

Publications

• Coorong Tatiara LAP dryland salinity webpage (contains a range of local resources for the Coomandook, Cooke Plains and Meningie areas)
• Regional Salinity Review June 2019