Discussion on the agricultural efficient utilization of saline-alkali land resources

Currently, there are about 9.9×10⁷ hm² of salt-affected soils in China, in which the modern saline soil is about 3.7×10⁷ hm². As an important reserved cropland resources, the comprehensive utilization of saline-alkali soils play very important role for ensuring national food security. After decades of research and practice, China has formed complete technical systems in the improvement of saline-alkali land, in which the hydraulic engineering measures combined with salt leaching by fresh water irrigation and drainage systems have played a key role in the reclamation of saline-alkali soils. However, due to the shortage of water resources and climatic conditions, most of the saline-alkali land in China has not been developed and utilized. In recent years, with the development of social economy and the progress of science and technology, people have gradually realized that saline-alkali land is an integral part of the natural ecosystem, in which the saline resources including saline soils, saline water and salt-tolerant organisms etc. have played important roles in diversified food production, ecological conservation and human life. In order to promote the high-quality development of agriculture in saline-alkali areas, it is necessary to strengthen the studies on the theories and technologies of efficient utilization of saline resources and to develop the relevant industry of saline-alkali land resources utilization. This paper analyzed current situation and the problems existing in the reclamation of saline-alkali soils, and discussed the utilization of halophytes and saline water resources, the efficient improvement of salt-affected soils by fertile root zone construction, the production of high-quality agricultural products in saline-alkali soils, the space utilization of saline lands by developing facility agriculture, and the development of grass and animal husbandry in saline-alkali land. This paper will provide reference for the efficient utilization of saline-alkali land resources.