Salinización

Salinización refers to the process by which saline or salt ions accumulate in soil or water. In soils, this often occurs when irrigation water with high salt content is used, or when natural salts are brought to the surface through capillary action. When water evaporates from the soil surface, the dissolved salts are left behind, gradually increasing the salinity of the soil. This process can be exacerbated by poor drainage, which prevents salts from being flushed away. In aquatic environments, salinization can happen when freshwater sources are contaminated by saltwater, for example, through the intrusion of seawater into coastal aquifers or estuaries due to over-extraction of freshwater or sea-level rise. The accumulation of salts can have significant negative impacts. In agriculture, increased soil salinity can inhibit plant growth by interfering with water uptake and causing ion toxicity, leading to reduced crop yields and in severe cases, land abandonment. In freshwater ecosystems, salinization can alter water chemistry, harming or displacing freshwater-dependent species and impacting the suitability of water for drinking and other uses.