Nature and origin of salts, their geochemical mobility, factors leading to the genesis of salt-affected soils, classification, extent in different countries, identification tools, new criterion for classification, methods of chemical and biological reclamation, new amendments like flue gas desulfurization gypsum, by-product phosphogypsum, sulphur and biochar have been presented. Management of coastal deltaic and tsunami affected saline soils, inland and waterlogged saline soils has been addressed in detail. Sources of different nutrients in soil, their availability in terms of biotic and abiotic stress, interaction of salinity and sodicity with different nutrients, methods to increase their efficiency, salt index of different fertilizers, deficiency symptoms of different nutrients and principles of fertilizer application in alkali and saline soils have been deliberated. Mechanisms of tolerance to salts and waterlogging have been deliberated in detail. Quality criteria, effects of specific toxic ions to judge their suitability and classification of irrigation waters have been discussed. Methods to control irrigated salinity through leaching, amelioration of saline, alkali waters and those with specific toxic ions have been incorporated. Surface, subsurface and vertical drainage, deficit irrigation, use and methods to reduce drainage effluents have been presented. Technologies for using trees and grasses as alternate strategies for management of salt-affected lands where agricultural crops cannot be raised, have been included. Development of halophytic fodder farms, eco-reserves and wetlands to use non-reclaimable saline and waterlogged soils are discussed.weiterlesen