The Potential for Enhancing the Salt Tolerance of Wheat and Other Important Crop Plants

Although the improvement of rainfed agriculture is receiving increasing attention, irrigation is generally recognised to be a key factor in arid and semi-arid regions. However, in many areas irrigated agriculture faces a serious challenge from progressive salinization and alkalinization. Furthermore, in many regions the supply of cheap, good quality irrigation water is severely limited. There is thus great pressure to utilize poorer quality brackish water and/or inferior soil for productive agriculture.