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Geography

Why Dryland Salinity Emerges from Clearing Native Vegetation

Quick fact

In drylands, clearing deep-rooted native vegetation can double or even triple the amount of rainfall that refills groundwater, causing the water table to rise and mobilize naturally stored salts to the surface, where they poison soils.

Why this is interesting

Imagine a farmer who clears a patch of native trees to gain more pasture. Years later, white crusts appear on the soil and crops won't grow. What went wrong?