Integrated Strategies for Saline-Alkali Soil Remediation and the Development of Salt-Alkali-Tolerant Crops.

Integrated strategies combining soil remediation, crop genetics, and microbial regulation can enhance sustainable agriculture in saline-alkali environments, addressing the global threat affecting over 831 million hectares.

• Why it matters: Soil salinization threatens food security and sustainable farming worldwide, yet current approaches lack effective translation from laboratory research to field-level yield improvements.
• What they did: The review compares physical, chemical, microbial, and phytoremediation methods, and investigates plant salt-alkali tolerance mechanisms, including ion transporters, hormone interactions, and epigenetic regulation, emphasizing the need for field validation and innovative techniques like CRISPR and microbiome engineering.
• The result: Implementing integrated, multi-faceted strategies can bridge existing gaps, enabling practical solutions that improve crop resilience and soil health, ultimately supporting global food security in saline-alkali regions.