Editing Soil salinity (section)

==Natural occurrence==
[[Salt (chemistry)|Salt]]s are a natural component in soils and water.
The [[ion]]s responsible for salinization are: [[Sodium|Na<sup>+</sup>]], [[Potassium|K<sup>+</sup>]], [[Calcium|Ca<sup>2+</sup>]], [[Magnesium|Mg<sup>2+</sup>]] and [[Chlorine|Cl<sup>−</sup>]].<br/>

Over long periods of time, as soil minerals [[weathering|weather]] and release salts, these salts are flushed or leached out of the soil by drainage water in areas with sufficient precipitation. In addition to mineral weathering, salts are also deposited via dust and precipitation.  Salts may accumulate in dry regions, leading to naturally saline soils. This is the case, for example, in [[Salinity in Australia|large parts of Australia]]. 

Human practices can increase the salinity of soils by the addition of salts in irrigation water. Proper irrigation management can prevent salt accumulation by providing adequate drainage water to leach added salts from the soil. Disrupting drainage patterns that provide leaching can also result in salt accumulations. An example of this occurred in [[Egypt]] in 1970 when the [[Aswan Dam|Aswan High Dam]] was built. The change in the level of [[ground water]] before the construction had enabled [[soil erosion]], which led to high concentration of salts in the water table. After the construction, the continuous high level of the water table led to the salinization of [[arable land]].{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}