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This paper aims at assessing performance of drip irrigation in irrigated areas of the Mendoza and Tunuyán river basins in the Province of Mendoza, Argentina. Assessments in 17 properties made it possible to determine uniformity coefficients, irrigation water salinity and soil salinity at the head, center and tail of the irrigation unit, in the wet bulb and in the spacing between laterals in two layers of the soil profile (0.10-0.30 m and 0.30-0.50 m). Soil texture and its possible relation with salinity levels measured in the rhizosphere were also determined. The uniformity coefficient in 18% of the irrigation subunits was below the recommended range and significant differences were observed in 94% of the properties between mean lows in irrigation subunits and operational sectors. When soil extracted from the bulb was compared with soil extracted from the spacing between laterals, significant differences were found in salinity of the soil saturation extract, in sodium content and in chloride anion content. No differences in the above variables were found at different soil depths. Increase in salinity levels was due to: sampling location (bulb or spacing between laterals), irrigation water quality, and soil texture. Variations in sodium content, on the other hand, depended on sampling location (bulb or spacing between laterals) and bicarbonate content in the soil. Results show that routine assessments of uniformity of irrigation systems and irrigation-induced-salinization should be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]