ISSN 2319-5347, ISI Impact Factor: 0.763

VOLUME 02  NO. 03 JULY 2014:

Title:               Effects of salinity on land fertility in coastal areas of Bangladesh
Authors:        Md. Azizur Rahman, K. Mahbub Hassan, Mahabub Alam, Abu Sayed Mohammad Akid, A.S.M. Riyad
Abstract:      Salinity intrusion is an increasing problem in the coastal areas of bangladesh. Climate change and its associated hazards like cyclone, sea level rise, and storm surge have been increasing the salinity problem in many folds. The coastal region covers about 20% of the country, from which cultivable lands are more than 30%. Agricultural land uses in these areas are very poor, because of high content of salinity. Already, 830,000 million hectares of land have been identified which are affected by soil salinity at different degrees. Salinity causes unfavorable environment and hydrological situation that restrict the normal crop production throughout the year. Saline soils contain soluble salts in quantities that affect plant growth adversely, the lower limit for a saline soil being set conventionally at an electrical conductivity of 4 mmho/cm in the soil saturation extract.Nutrient deficiency of n is quite dominant in saline soils. Deficiencies of micronutrients, such as cu and zn are widespread. Ions that contribute to soil salinity include cl-
, s042-, hc03-, na+, ca2+, mg2+, and, rarely, n03-or k+.Salinization affects the metabolism of the organisms present in the soil, drastically reducing soil fertility and increasing water proofing of the deeper layers.

Keywords:  Climate change, coastal areas of Bangladesh, cultivable land, salinity, micronutrients
Pages:       174-179

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