Soil salinity is a major threat to the sustainability of agricultural production and rural livelihoods in the Mirzachul area in Uzbekistan. Leaching, a traditional practice to cope with salinity through flushing of soils with fresh water in order to remove excess salts from the topsoil, is no longer feasible due to disrepair and inefficient operation of the drainage networks. As a result, salinized lands are either giving very low yields and income or are abandoned, which is negatively affecting rural livelihoods. As an intermediate solution, the cultivation of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is proposed as a viable alternative, as it rehabilitates salinized soils and improves their fertility - so that major crops can be again grown profitably in these abandoned or highly saline lands. In addition to its positive impact on the sustainability of agricultural production in irrigated areas, licorice cultivation can also increase farm income thanks to the high economic value and marketability of its roots and the value of its biomass as livestock feed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.