USE OF SALINE WATER IN NORTH WEST CHINA- A CASE STUDY-

Minqin Basin is located in the Northwest of China which is one of the driest regions in the world. The area is characterized by low and irregular rainfall, high temperatures and evaporation and notable drought periods. The groundwater is a significant part of the total water resource. The over-exploitation of groundwater affects the intense mineralization of groundwater, lowering of the water table, land desertification and salinization. The use of waters with elevated levels of salinity is, therefore, one likely option to meet the supply of increased demands of water that guarantee the livelihood of the Minqin basin farmers in the NW of China. The water quality (salinity) varies through the Minqin basin. Therefore in the upper reach the water salinity is around 0.8 g L-1 (ECw 1.00 dS m-1), in the middle reach is 2 g L-1 (ECw 2.66 dS m-1) and in the lower reach is 5 g L-1 (ECw 7.03 dS m-1), and in the lower reach, close to the desert, the salinity is around 10 g L-1 . An overview of the effet that the irrigation and agronomic management have determined it is illustrated. Suggestion are given about the possible best practise that should be implemented are illustrated to mitigate the effect in long term on the soil and ennvironmental degradation.