Assessing the risk of soil salinization in an intensively irrigated area of Pakistan
Abstract Agricultural productivity in the Rechna Doab, an important sub-basin of the Indus River in Pakistan, is declining due to high salinity in the soil. The future progression of soil salinization remains uncertain, and it is challenging to identify which areas are most vulnerable to this proces...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Discover Water |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-025-00268-0 |
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| _version_ | 1849331576137056256 |
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| author | Zunaira Maab Wouter Julius Smolenaars Muhammad Khalid Jamil Hester Biemans |
| author_facet | Zunaira Maab Wouter Julius Smolenaars Muhammad Khalid Jamil Hester Biemans |
| author_sort | Zunaira Maab |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Agricultural productivity in the Rechna Doab, an important sub-basin of the Indus River in Pakistan, is declining due to high salinity in the soil. The future progression of soil salinization remains uncertain, and it is challenging to identify which areas are most vulnerable to this process. This uncertainty makes it challenging to develop adaptation strategies that target the key causes in the affected areas. In this study, a novel model for salinization risk is presented that is specifically tailored to the context of irrigated agriculture in the Rechna Doab. This model combines several spatial layers of drivers and risk factors to provide a high-resolution Combined Salinization Risk Indicator. This indicator allows for a spatially detailed analysis of the areas within the Rechna Doab with high risk for future salinization and to derive its main causes. Similarly, areas can be identified where soils are at relatively low risk. The results demonstrate that the lower Rechna Doab is at high risk of losing agricultural productivity due to the characteristics of its groundwater table and limited amount of precipitation. The salinization risk model developed in this study offers valuable insights for agricultural policy making and can be valuable for preliminary risk assessment in other regions with irrigated agriculture. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-be14ee38779a4921bafcc8e5094e8a5b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2730-647X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Water |
| spelling | doaj-art-be14ee38779a4921bafcc8e5094e8a5b2025-08-20T03:46:29ZengSpringerDiscover Water2730-647X2025-08-015111810.1007/s43832-025-00268-0Assessing the risk of soil salinization in an intensively irrigated area of PakistanZunaira Maab0Wouter Julius Smolenaars1Muhammad Khalid Jamil2Hester Biemans3Water Systems and Global Change, Wageningen University and Research CentreWater Systems and Global Change, Wageningen University and Research CentreWater Systems and Global Change, Wageningen University and Research CentreWater Systems and Global Change, Wageningen University and Research CentreAbstract Agricultural productivity in the Rechna Doab, an important sub-basin of the Indus River in Pakistan, is declining due to high salinity in the soil. The future progression of soil salinization remains uncertain, and it is challenging to identify which areas are most vulnerable to this process. This uncertainty makes it challenging to develop adaptation strategies that target the key causes in the affected areas. In this study, a novel model for salinization risk is presented that is specifically tailored to the context of irrigated agriculture in the Rechna Doab. This model combines several spatial layers of drivers and risk factors to provide a high-resolution Combined Salinization Risk Indicator. This indicator allows for a spatially detailed analysis of the areas within the Rechna Doab with high risk for future salinization and to derive its main causes. Similarly, areas can be identified where soils are at relatively low risk. The results demonstrate that the lower Rechna Doab is at high risk of losing agricultural productivity due to the characteristics of its groundwater table and limited amount of precipitation. The salinization risk model developed in this study offers valuable insights for agricultural policy making and can be valuable for preliminary risk assessment in other regions with irrigated agriculture.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-025-00268-0SalinizationCRISpatial risk assessmentRechna DoabClimatic conditionsIrrigation methods |
| spellingShingle | Zunaira Maab Wouter Julius Smolenaars Muhammad Khalid Jamil Hester Biemans Assessing the risk of soil salinization in an intensively irrigated area of Pakistan Discover Water Salinization CRI Spatial risk assessment Rechna Doab Climatic conditions Irrigation methods |
| title | Assessing the risk of soil salinization in an intensively irrigated area of Pakistan |
| title_full | Assessing the risk of soil salinization in an intensively irrigated area of Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the risk of soil salinization in an intensively irrigated area of Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the risk of soil salinization in an intensively irrigated area of Pakistan |
| title_short | Assessing the risk of soil salinization in an intensively irrigated area of Pakistan |
| title_sort | assessing the risk of soil salinization in an intensively irrigated area of pakistan |
| topic | Salinization CRI Spatial risk assessment Rechna Doab Climatic conditions Irrigation methods |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-025-00268-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zunairamaab assessingtheriskofsoilsalinizationinanintensivelyirrigatedareaofpakistan AT wouterjuliussmolenaars assessingtheriskofsoilsalinizationinanintensivelyirrigatedareaofpakistan AT muhammadkhalidjamil assessingtheriskofsoilsalinizationinanintensivelyirrigatedareaofpakistan AT hesterbiemans assessingtheriskofsoilsalinizationinanintensivelyirrigatedareaofpakistan |