The Murray Darling Basin is situated in Australia, it is one of the largest river systems in the world, it is divided into the northern basin (Darling system) and the southern Basin (Murray system). The Basin serves a significant role in supporting a wide range of native and introduced species of plants, animals and ecosystems.
Currently salinity management is one of the most important environmental challenges facing the Murray-Darling Basin. If the salinity is not managed there could be a serious impact on surrounding plant growth, biodiversity, land productivity and the supply of water for human needs as the water quality would have decreased drastically.
Salinity is a term that describes the salt content of …show more content…
To improve salinity you can:
• Grow deep rooted plants in your garden
• Avoid over watering your garden
• Use water sparingly
If you live on a farm, to improve salinity you can:
• Plant native vegetation
• Manage grazing and cropping
• Partake in conservation farming
• Plant deep rooted plants
• Irrigation drainage re-use
• And do improved irrigation efficiency …show more content…
It often occurs where crops and pastures that use less water as they have shallow roots replace deep-rooted vegetation. This causes an increase in leakage to the groundwater system in which can lead to movement of salts stored in the soil in some areas. Saline groundwater could also rise to the surface in some low-lying areas, groundwater could also flow underground directly into streams and rivers.
• Irrigation Salinity- irrigation salinity is the rise in saline groundwater and the build up of salt in the soil surface in irrigated areas. Excessive irrigation can cause excess water to leak past the root zone to groundwater.
• Urban Salinity- urban salinity is the result of both dry land and irrigation salinity. Urban development and issues such as over-watering parks and gardens, leaking pipes, drains and tanks and blocking or changing natural drainage paths can cause the groundwater to rise. In urban environments there are many other sources of salt that can cause urban salinity including salt contained in effluent, building material, industrial waste water and fertilizers and