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Which regions have land that could be reclaimed from salt accumulation?

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Yser River; land reclamation — land reclamation The Yser River flowing through reclaimed farmland in Belgium.

Salt accumulation primarily affects soils in arid regions and coastal areas subject to periodic seawater inundation, where evaporation leaves behind salts that inhibit plant growth.1

Extensive areas of saline and sodic soils—which require reclamation through improved drainage, leaching with nonsaline water, and sometimes the addition of amendments like gypsum—are found in the following regions:

Additionally, coastal lands reclaimed from the sea, such as those in the Netherlands (via the polder system) and historically in the United States, often contain high salt concentrations that necessitate similar reclamation procedures to become productive for agriculture. In some cases, such as marshlands containing high levels of sulfides (known as cat clays), reclamation is rarely attempted unless the soil naturally contains enough lime to neutralize acidity, with limited exceptions for rice production in Southeast Asia.2