Irrigation and Soil Salinity in the Indian Subcontinent : Past and Present

This book deals with the development of irrigation in the subcontinent since the beginning of settled agriculture, and its possible connections with the occurrence of salinity and alkalinity in irrigated lands.

It includes a general description of the subcontinent, its water resources, development of canal irrigation - especially its promotion during the British rule, soils of the subcontinent, sources of their salts and prominent salt formations, causes of water logging and remedial measures, irrigation-soil salinity connection and a perspective on problem-free irrigated agriculture.

The book describes salt lands of the subcontinent, their distribution, and native flora.

It critically reviews research conducted since the 1860s, historical land reclamation efforts, saline irrigation and use of salt lands for raising tree plantations, pastures, and extraction of salts.

This book will appeal to scientists and teachers in the fields of soil science, agronomy, and irrigation; to administrators, planners, and all those interested in the history of irrigation and soil salinity.

Nirmal T. Singh is an independent scholar.