BIOSALINE AGRICULTURE FOR DRYLAND REHABILITATION

Abstract

Biosaline agriculture is increasingly recognized as a practical pathway for rehabilitating drylands degraded by salinity, drought and low soil productivity. The approach relies on the use of salt-tolerant crops, halophytes, saline water and soil amendments to sustain biomass production while restoring ecosystem function in marginal lands. Recent studies show that halophytes such as Suaeda salsa can contribute both to biomass production and to the remediation of salinized soils, linking agriculture with ecological restoration. Biosaline systems are also expanding through integrated models such as saline aquaculture-agriculture, where fish effluents and intercrops can improve yield and resource-use efficiency under saline conditions. Overall, biosaline agriculture offers a climate-resilient strategy for dryland rehabilitation by combining production, soil recovery and livelihood support in salt-affected areas.