Water Quality Criteria for Irrigation

In irrigated agriculture, the hazard of salt water is a constant threat. Poor quality irrigation water is generally more concerning as the climate changes from humid to arid conditions. Salinity is not normally a threat where precipitation is a major source of salt-free water for crop production. Water that enters the soil and is not stored or consumed by evapotranspiration moves through the crop root zone, eventually reaching the water table. If the amount of water leaching through the soil is too low to remove salts, the soil's salt content increases and crop yields may decrease. In such situations, the soil is said to be salt-affected.

This publication addresses:
Origins of Salts
Quantifying Salinity Hazards
Salinity
Sodicity
Toxicity
Leaching
Salinity Hazards in Nebraska