Salt-Affected Soils in Italy

Soil salinization and sodification risks are two of the main threats in agricultural soils of Italy<br> (Dazzi, 2008). In Italy they are mainly due to irrigation with saline waters (Dazzi and Lo Papa,<br> 2013), to seawater intrusion (Castrignanò et al., 2008, Dazzi and Lo Papa, 2013, Selvaggi et al.,<br> 2010), and to saline parent materials (Dazzi and Fierotti, 1994). The water level is strictly regulated<br> by channels and pumping stations (Vittori Antisari et al., 2020; Buscaroli and Zannoni, 2010;<br> Teatini et al., 2007), and seawater intrusion along rivers, canals and in the groundwater aquifer is<br> exacerbated by subsidence (Teatini et al., 2005). The salt-rich parent material can be exposed due<br> to soil erosion (Piccarreta et al., 2006; Cocco et al., 2015). In the last decades, several Italian regional<br> authorities for soil data produced soil salinity (risk) maps, resorting to different mapping<br> approaches. Previous examples of salinity risk maps of Italy have been also attempted (Dazzi, 2008,<br> Costantini et al. 2009). This works presents the maps of salt-affected soils of Italy, as part of the 1k<br> grid GSSmap, realized adopting the procedure proposed by the Global Soil Partnership (GSP), and<br> involving the Italian regional authorities, which are part of the Italian Soil Partnership.