Salinization is when salt concentration exceeds the plant tolerance level Leeds to plant growth, damage to infrastructure, degradation of water quality. Salinization has become a major environmental and socioeconomic challenge in the world. Globally, 1 billion hectares of soil is affected by salinity and expected to be expanding due to climate change and poor irrigation practices, especially in dry-land catchments. It has been reported that nearly 50% of fertile land may come under stress of salinity by 2050 due to intensification of evaporation, increase salt accumulation, which is serious threat to agriculture leads to global food security.

The United Nations has established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Among these, SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. This goal seeks to ensure that every individual has access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.

However, the rapidly growing global population, coupled with increasing soil salinization, poses a serious threat to global food security. Rising salinity levels not only reduce crop yields but also degrade the nutritional quality of food, intensifying the challenge of feeding a growing population. This has prompted widespread scientific concern and a pressing need to investigate the underlying causes and solutions.

To secure healthy and nutritious food for future generations, there is an urgent need to advance research on water and salt dynamics, particularly in dryland catchments, where salinization is most prevalent. Understanding these processes is essential for developing sustainable agricultural practices, improving land management, and ensuring long-term food security in the face of climate change and environmental degradation.

This Research Topic seeks to advance scientific understanding of water and salt dynamics in dryland catchments, with a focus on emerging challenges posed by climate stress. We invite contributions that investigate the complex interplay between hydrological processes, geochemical transformations, and anthropogenic activities driving salt accumulation and redistribution in water-limited environments. Special emphasis is placed on innovative approaches, including high-resolution monitoring techniques, integrated modelling frameworks, and novel indicators for assessing salinity risk and ecosystem resilience.

We encourage submissions that explore feedbacks between climate variability, land management, and salt transport across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Studies addressing the socio-economic dimensions of salinization, adaptive strategies for affected communities, and the role of traditional knowledge in sustainable land use are particularly welcome. The Research Topic aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and provide actionable insights for policy and practice.

We invite Original Research, Reviews, Methods, Data Reports, and Perspectives that contribute to building climate-resilient agricultural systems and safeguarding ecosystem services in dryland regions worldwide.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Advancement in water and salt dynamics in dryland catchments under climate stress