Technical article · Innovak News
Plants have developed various defense mechanisms against stress, including the activation of antioxidant enzymes that eliminate reactive oxygen species. However, climate change has limited the effectiveness of these systems. Salt stress triggers three types of stress: osmotic (high salt concentration prevents water absorption), ionic (toxic levels of sodium and chlorides reduce nutrient uptake), and oxidative (imbalance between ROS production and neutralization capacity).
Dr. Javier Zuzunaga explains: soil salinity increases with the use of poor-quality irrigation water. Growing in a saline soil with good quality water allows salt leaching, while using poor quality water in a non-saline soil leads to progressive salt accumulation. Increasingly, seawater intrusion is occurring in agricultural areas where it previously didn't exist, such as in Montpellier, France (vineyards) and Valencia, Spain (citrus orchards).
In Latin America, Mexico and Peru are examples where export agriculture has developed in coastal zones already presenting salinity problems. In northern Peru, vineyards have shown soil salinity levels above 5 dS/m in some areas, and even salt-tolerant rootstocks like Salt Creek can be harmed over time if salinity levels remain high. Implementing innovative technologies and sustainable soil and water management practices is fundamental to mitigate salinity effects and ensure agricultural productivity.
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