Blog: The Salt of the Earth : Researchers use remote sensing and precision technology to aid growers in arid regions
One of the main challenges of irrigating crops is that available water sources contain salt. Over time, repeated waterings from these sources lead to salt accumulation, damaging soil fertility. This issue is especially acute in the arid and semi-arid regions found in much of the western United States. To address the issue, researchers are beginning to apply the techniques of digital and precision agriculture to help growers provide their crops with the water they need without harming them, or the soil, in the process. Their efforts combine a variety of strategies and tools. Todd Skaggs, research leader at ARS’s Agricultural Water Efficiency and Salinity (AWES) Research Unit, in Riverside, CA, described several ideas that his team is exploring. One approach is to develop crops with a higher salt tolerance, including working to understand that trait at a genetic level.