While much of Australia’s soil profile is naturally salty, dryland and irrigation salinity are spreading. This is due to rising watertables bringing salt to the surface. Inadequate drainage, poor irrigation practices, over-clearing and poor ground cover all contribute to salinity.
Using the right amount of fertilizers on pastures and crops can help prevent the further spread of saline areas by encouraging plant growth and reducing the amount of water moving into the watertable.
Planting deep-rooted trees in the appropriate place, using deep-rooted perennial pasture species, restricting tree clearing and balancing the amount of irrigation water needed for plants are other methods that contribute to managing salinity.
