The term for salts persisting in soil after evaporation is:

The term for salts persisting in soil after evaporation is:

• A. Salinization
• B. Leaching of nutrients due to acid rain
• C. Waterlogging
• D. Eutrophication

Answer: (A)

Salinization is the buildup of salts in soil after water evaporates. In dry regions or with irrigation, water carrying dissolved salts enters the soil. As that water moves up and out or is taken up by plants, it leaves behind the dissolved salts. If the soil drains poorly, these salts aren’t leached away, so they accumulate in the root zone and persist. This increased soil salinity makes it harder for plants to absorb water and nutrients, leading to reduced growth and yield over time. The other terms describe different processes: leaching of nutrients from acid rain refers to nutrients being washed away, not salt buildup; waterlogging is excessive soil moisture that limits oxygen; eutrophication is nutrient enrichment of water bodies, not soil salts.

Salinization is the buildup of salts in soil after water evaporates. In dry regions or with irrigation, water carrying dissolved salts enters the soil. As that water moves up and out or is taken up by plants, it leaves behind the dissolved salts. If the soil drains poorly, these salts aren’t leached away, so they accumulate in the root zone and persist. This increased soil salinity makes it harder for plants to absorb water and nutrients, leading to reduced growth and yield over time. The other terms describe different processes: leaching of nutrients from acid rain refers to nutrients being washed away, not salt buildup; waterlogging is excessive soil moisture that limits oxygen; eutrophication is nutrient enrichment of water bodies, not soil salts.