About the Conference

Salt-affected soils (SAS) are spread over more than 100 countries in the world. Globally, SAS covers over ~835 Mha, comprising sodic (438 Mha) and saline (397 Mha) soils. Of which ~76 Mha area is affected by human-induced salinization and sodification. Livelihoods of more than 2.6 billion (about 74%) of resource-poor peasants is facing a threat due to moderate to severe degradation of nearly 52% of the world's agrarian land. This results in an annual economic loss to the extent of ~US$ 6.3 billion. To contain the process of further soil deterioration, the sustainable land management is vital for ecological sustainability and to meet the national targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Presently, the soil salinization is a major environmental challenge affecting the production and low of essential ecosystem services (loss of biodiversity, nutrient and water recycling, carbon sequestration etc.) eventually results in the reduced productive capacity of soils.

At present, India has 6.73 Mha salt-affected area, of which 2.95 million ha is saline distributed over 16 states. Moreover, the situation may worsen in near future as the projected area under SAS might increase to the extent of 16.2 M ha by 2050. For this, the major causes are: inefficient-drainage systems and associated waterlogging conditions; increasing use of unstainable management practices and incessantly expensing area under poor-quality groundwater irrigation. The use of poor-quality groundwater irrigation ranges 32–84% in different arid and semiarid regions of India. This poses a serious threat to the sustainability of crop production system. Further, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Punjab states accounts for ~ 80% of the total sodic lands of India. The problem of saline soils is present in 12 states among them Gujarat has the highest area (1.68 Mha). The estimates show that the annual crop production loss due to salinity and sodicity is as high as 16.84 million tonnes, resulting in loss of ₹ 23,00 million (2015 base price). This necessitates the need of sustainable management of the degraded lands to avoid their further expansion and associated ramifications for the food security under the looming effects of climate change.

In this context, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has devised a comprehensive global strategic framework (2018-2030) to overcome the international and national challenges of different processes of land degradation including soil salinization, soil erosion, desertification and droughts having serious economic and social repercussions. The UNCCD member countries are committed to achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN) by 2030 for restoring land productivity and thereby improving livelihood security of resource-poor farmers. In 2019, India sets its target of restoring 26 Mha of degraded land including salinized and waterlogged lands by 2030.

To meet the India's LND targets particularly in salinity and sodicity areas within stipulated period requires a host of holistic strategies including development of cost-effective, efficient, scalable technological solutions, institutional collaborations, financial support, enabling policy environment and dedicated programmes and schemes aligned with national priorities. With this background, the Indian Society of Soil Salinity and Water Quality in collaboration with ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal and Indian Council of Agriculture Research is planning to organize International Salinity Conference on 'Rejuvenating Salt Affected Ecologies for Land Degradation Neutrality under Changing Climate' at Karnal (HR) during 14-16 February 2024. The Conference will provide opportunity to discuss and deliberate on the innovative ideas, insights and solutions for devising workable strategies under different sub-themes of the Conference. It is our pleasure to cordially invite researchers, development officials, progressive farmers, industries, NGOs/FPOs, planners and policy makers to participate and share their valuable experiences on sustainable management of soil salinity and use of poor-quality water during the upcoming National Salinity Conference.

Conference Abstract Themes

• Theme I: Assessment, monitoring and mapping of salinity and degraded lands using advanced GIS and remote sensing tools, drivers and indicators
• Theme II: Processes of salinization/land degradation and their effects on soil, water, crops, and amelioration strategies to achieve LND and SDGs.
• Theme III: Efficient and sustainable strategies for productive use of groundwater and low-quality water in agriculture
• Theme IV: Approaches to develop multi-stress tolerance in crops for sustainable management of saline ecologies
• Theme V:Alternate land use, agro-forestry, horticultural, integrated farming systems and crop diversification for improving productivity of degraded and saline agro-ecosystems
• Theme VI: Adaptation and mitigation options and climate resilient practices for nutrition, food and livelihood security in salt affected ecosystems.
• Theme VII: Impact of salinity/NRM technologies, socio-economic issues, policies/institutions, and crop-livestock linkages for sustainable production in salt-affected eco-systems.

Important Dates

Registration