Green manure for soil salinity reclamation- A comprehensive review

Abstract

Large areas of the world are affected by high levels of soil salinity. Global warming causes a rapid rise of the sea level and enhancing new salt-affected areas inundating new agricultural land through saltwater intrusion. Salinity management through breeding strategies, land management or organic amendment could be wise strategies for salt management. Exogenous application of legumes as green manure can potentially reduce negative effects of soil salinity through growth improvement, ionic homeostasis via enhancing Ca/Na ratio in soil, adding organic matter, over expressing SOD, POD, CAT, APX, and lessening membrane leakage that upsurge crop productivity in saline environments. Such contribution to the sustainable agricultural systems is considered an alternate way towards enhancing crop cultivation in saline ecosystems. This review focused on the mechanisms of green manuring crops in soil salinity reclamation and subsequent contribution on crop growth and development.