One of the big challenges of irrigating crops is dealing with water sources containing salt.
Over time, repeated irrigation from these sources lead to salt accumulation and damaging soil fertility.
To help out, the Agricultural Research Service’s Ag Water Efficiency and Salinity Research unit in Riverside is using remote sensing and precision technology to aid growers.
The goal is to assist growers to make use of water they need without harming crops and soil.
Another approach is to develop crops with a higher salt tolerance, including working to understand that trait at a genetic level.
Researchers have also leveraged remote sensing data from satellites to create a better picture of salinity levels in fields.
