Impact of Salt and Saline Water Irrigation on Soil Properties and Sugarcane Growth: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract A detailed study was conducted on the effect of salt and saline water irrigation on soil properties and sugarcane growth. Freshwater (<0.5 dS/m), low salinity (2.5 dS/m), and high salinity (4.0 dS/m) irrigation treatments were applied to sugarcane crops. The soil physical, chemical, and microbial properties were determined in the soil of 0–30 cm depth samples collected from fields. Germination rate, shoot emergence, plant height, stalk diameter at the base of the plant at soil surface level and midpoints were recorded during growing season was used to identify growth parameters which includes polygenic genes affect multi trait character such as number of millable canes and cane yield. The degradation in the physical properties and reduction in nutrient availability under continuous high salinity irrigation (7-8 dS m−1) Quite clearly indicated a breakdown of soil structure causing increase in bulk density, decrease in porosity and plant available water, loss of chemical complexes. This might have resulted in reduced nutrient availability, inhibited enzyme function and microbial activity. For sugarcane, no significant gain growth and yield suffered v gradient of salinity (0-40 ds/m) decreased the percentage of germination in 76 % to 96% for control treatment (fresh water). Under saline conditions, the time to shoot emergence was delayed and plant height, stalk diameter and number of millable canes were significantly lower. At the high salinity level of done 45 dSm(-1), cane yield was reduced by 38% because of excessive ions resulted in phytotoxic effects. Low salinity irrigation (<3 dS/m) did not cause serious changes in the main soil properties and sugarcane growth. Saline water irrigation poses significant threats on soil health and sugarcane productivity due to limited well-adapted varieties and appropriate management strategies for regions facing incidences of salinity stress.