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How can irrigation with Jordan River water leave salt in farmland soil?
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Jordan River
Portion of the Jordan Valley, a rift valley that runs north-south along the Jordan River.
Irrigation with Jordan River water can lead to salt accumulation in farmland soil through a process driven by evaporation and the natural mineral content of the river.12
The mechanism occurs as follows:
- Initial Salt Content: The waters of the Jordan River possess a relatively high degree of salinity due to the presence of thermal springs and concentrations of gypsum along its course.2
- Evaporation and Concentration: When this water is applied to fields for irrigation, plants typically absorb the water but exclude most of the dissolved salts. As the water evaporates from the soil surface or is transpired by crops, the salts are left behind.34
- Accumulation: In arid regions, where there is insufficient rainfall to flush these salts downward through the soil profile, the residual salt builds up over time.4
This accumulation is detrimental because high salt levels inhibit plant growth by causing dehydration; the salt makes it difficult for roots to extract water from the soil via osmosis. To maintain productivity, farmers must often employ drainage and leaching techniques to remove the excess salt.143