Soil and water salinity is one of the most important factors threatening the country's lands, which poses a serious challenge to the sustainability of production and achievement of food security. According to studies conducted on the country's soil resources, of 18.5 million hectares of agricultural land (Arable land), about 8 million hectares are irrigated land and of this amount, about 6.8 million hectares are affected by salinity. 
    The use of halophytes for production of oil and forage, due to the presence of seawater and drainage resources is of particular importance in soil and water management in the country, to meet the needs of many projects for the amelioration of saline and sodic soils, such as the quality of irrigation water, increasing the ratio of magnesium to calcium and their carbonate.

Program Objectives
•    Determining the trend of changes in agricultural water quality
•    Identifying and zoning of problematic soils with emphasis on saline and sodic soils
•    Identifying the magnesiumization status of irrigation water
•    Achieve to fertility management of planting plants in saline and sodic lands (with emphasis on Quinoa)
•    Improving water use efficiency in saline soils of pistachio orchards in the country

Number of research plans and projects:
•  Plans: 3
•  Projects: 22