Soil salinization occurs when water-soluble salts accumulate in the soil to a level that impacts on agricultural production, environmental health, and economics.

• Salt at higher level causes soil aggregates to break down, collapsing soil pores and reducing the movement of water and air. This makes soil impermeable.
• In the early stages, salinity affects the metabolism of soil organisms and reduces soil productivity, but in advanced stages it destroys all vegetation and other organisms living in the soil, consequently transforming fertile and productive land into barren and desertified lands.