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Nature, Environment, Sustainability & Transformation

types of ecosystem services

Understanding Saline Soils: A Practical Guide for Farmers

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What does it mean for soil to be saline?

Imagine watering your plants, and afterwards, you notice a whitish residue on the soil, as if someone had sprinkled salt over it. This is because there really is salt in the soil. We refer to soils with a high concentration of dissolved salts as saline soils. This can happen for various reasons, such as using saline irrigation water, intrusion of saline water, or simply because the location naturally has high salt content. This is more common in areas with low rainfall and high heat, as the water evaporates but the salts remain.

Why is soil salinity a problem for plants?

The presence of high salt levels in the soil can be problematic because it makes it difficult for plants to absorb water and nutrients properly. This weakens them, interferes with their growth, and in severe cases, can even kill them. Plants in saline soils often appear wilted, have burnt tips on their leaves, and show stunted growth.

Plants that indicate saline soils

Some plants can not only tolerate salinity but also signal that a soil is saline. Here are a few of them:

Salicornia europaea
Salicornia europaea
  • Salicornia: Also known as glasswort or sea asparagus (Salicornia europaea), this succulent green plant is typical of coastal and saline zones.
  • Atriplex: Known as saltbush, these plants can thrive in highly saline soils and are often used to rehabilitate degraded lands.
  • Suaeda: Often called sea blite (Suaeda maritima), this is another plant that adapts well to saline conditions and helps indicate their presence.
  • Juncus: These reeds are commonly found in brackish areas and are good indicators of salinity (Juncus acutus).

Additionally, utilising plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, a type of fungus that forms symbiotic relationships with plant roots, can be an effective strategy to enhance plant growth in these challenging soils.

Tips for managing saline soils

Atriplex halimus
Atriplex halimus
  1. Early identification: Learning to recognise plants that indicate salinity can help you take action before the problem seriously affects your crops.
  2. Improving drainage: Ensuring that your soil has good drainage can help wash away salts.
  3. Using amendments: Materials like gypsum can help displace salts and improve soil structure.

Conclusion

Recognizing and understanding saline soils is crucial for any farmer or land manager. By observing which types of plants are growing in your fields and how they respond, you can gain valuable insights into the health of your soil and take steps to improve its quality and the productivity of your crops. This guide is not only a starting point for better managing saline soils but also a way to promote more sustainable and effective agricultural practices.

What Are Ecosystem Services – And Why Are They at the Heart of Our Environmental Future?

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In the midst of a climate crisis, more and more voices are calling for a real, deep, and long-term green transition. But that transformation cannot happen without understanding a key concept: ecosystem services. In other words, all the benefits nature provides us for free that support our daily lives — from the air we breathe to the food on our plates.

What types of ecosystem services exist?

Ecosystem services are grouped into four main categories:

  • Provisioning services: These are the tangible products we obtain from nature, such as fresh water, crops, timber, and medicinal plants.
  • Regulating services: Natural processes that help regulate environmental conditions, including air and water purification, pest control, and climate regulation.
  • Supporting services: These are the foundation for all other services — like soil formation, nutrient cycling, and pollination.
  • Cultural services: The non-material benefits ecosystems offer, such as recreation, ecotourism, cultural heritage, and spiritual value.

Real-life examples that are already making a difference

The concept may sound abstract, but in practice, it has very real implications. In several Spanish cities, for instance, urban green spaces are being expanded with native trees to combat heatwaves. These areas don’t just improve aesthetics — they lower local temperatures, filter pollutants, and manage stormwater runoff more effectively.

In southern agricultural regions, some farms are reintroducing living hedgerows and flower strips to attract pollinators. This boosts crop productivity without relying on chemicals, while also supporting local biodiversity.

Wetlands are another key example — acting as natural water purifiers and helping to prevent floods. Their preservation is not just about wildlife: it directly impacts the water security of thousands of people.

A new way of seeing the land

Understanding and valuing ecosystem services is not just the job of scientists or policymakers. It requires a shift in mindset that includes all of us. It means recognising that healthy ecosystems aren’t a luxury — they are the foundation of our health, economy, and overall quality of life.

This is why more and more initiatives are now embracing land management models that incorporate ecosystem services into planning and design. Restoring forests, protecting agricultural soils, or conserving wetlands is no longer seen as a cost — but as an investment with ecological, economic, and social returns.