DOI: 10.11648/j.sdc.20260103.11 ISSN: 3143-0597

Distribution, Characteristics, and Fertility Constraints of Salt-Affected Soils in Ethiopia: A Review

Tesfaye Tadesse, Anbessa Teshale, Amanuel Jorge, Yitagesu Girma
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Salt-affected soils are a major constraint to agricultural productivity and sustainable land management in Ethiopia, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions such as the Rift Valley, Afar, and Somali lowlands. These soils, including saline, sodic, and saline-sodic types, cover approximately 11 million hectares, or 36% of the country’s total land area. Their distribution is influenced by natural factors such as parent material, low rainfall, and high evaporation, as well as human-induced factors including poor irrigation, inadequate drainage, deforestation, and overgrazing. High concentrations of soluble salts and sodium degrade soil structure, reduce water retention, hinder root development, increase osmotic potential, induce specific ion toxicity, and disrupt nutrient availability, collectively limiting crop growth, soil fertility, and livestock productivity. These effects contribute to higher production costs, lower agricultural yields, and reduced livelihoods, aggravating food insecurity in affected regions. Effective management and reclamation of salt-affected soils require integrated strategies combining physical, chemical, and biological approaches. Key interventions include leaching excess salts, improving irrigation and drainage systems, applying chemical amendments such as gypsum and H₂SO₄, incorporating organic matter, practicing crop rotation, and cultivating salt-tolerant or halophytic species that use salt exclusion, compartmentalization, and excretion mechanisms. Sustainable land-use planning, long-term monitoring, region-specific research, and community-based approaches are essential to mitigate salinity impacts and maintain soil productivity. This review synthesizes existing knowledge on the distribution, characteristics, and fertility constraints of salt-affected soils in Ethiopia, highlighting management practices and research gaps to guide policy, enhance agricultural productivity, and promote environmental sustainability in lowland agro-ecologies.

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