Reclamation and Utilization of Saline Soils in Arid Northwestern China: A Promising Halophyte Drip-Irrigation System.

In this article the authors discuss the reclamation and utilization of saline soils in the arid region of northwestern China. They note the challenges to China's agriculture of meeting the demand for food, fodder, and fuel, arguing that one of the best solutions towards achieving agricultural stability and sustainable development is saline agriculture. Topics include the authors' proposal to plant salt-tolerant crops, called halophytes, under drip-irrigation conditions, the challenges facing China's long-term food security, such as a shortage of agricultural water resources, the water-use efficiency of drip irrigation, and some restricting factors to the direct consumption of halophytes by humans and animals, such as their high salt content.