University of Arizona researchers in Yuma test products to fight soil salt

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - University of Arizona researchers in Yuma are testing 32 commercial products designed to reduce soil salinity, a problem that can damage crops and create additional challenges for desert agriculture.

The research is taking place at the University of Arizona's Yuma County Cooperative Extension, where researchers are evaluating whether the products can help manage salt buildup in the soil and protect crop growth.

Soil salinity occurs when salts accumulate in the soil over time. Irrigation water, fertilizers and evaporation can all contribute to the problem.

When salt concentrations become too high, they can make it harder for plants to grow.

Robert Masson, an associate agricultural agent with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, is leading the research.

"A lot of the water that we use in agriculture is used to treat salinity," Masson said. "The problem is that we have a high concentration of those salts, and they affect the growth of plants."

Yuma's dry climate makes the region particularly useful for studying the issue. The area receives less than three inches of rain annually, limiting the natural process that helps wash salts deeper into the soil.

Researchers are using a test field with underground drip irrigation to evaluate the products. They plan to increase the salt concentration in irrigation water and monitor how the different treatments affect soil conditions and lettuce growth.

The goal is to determine which products are effective and whether they offer a worthwhile investment for farmers.

Researchers said independent testing can provide growers with more reliable information about commercial treatments, helping them make informed decisions before spending money on products that claim to combat salinity.

The findings could become increasingly important as water supplies across the Colorado River Basin face continued pressure.

For farmers in Yuma and the surrounding desert Southwest, managing soil salinity is one part of maintaining productive fields while making the most of available water.

The research is expected to provide data that can help guide future testing and improve understanding of how commercial salinity treatments perform under Yuma's growing conditions.