Soil saline-alkalization is becoming a major constraint for agricultural production, seriously threatening ecosystems and food security globally. An estimated 50% of total agricultural land will be salinized by 2050 due to factors such as low precipitation, high surface evaporation, poor cultural practices, over application of chemical fertilizers and so on (Jamil et al., 2011). It is important to note that approximately 60% of the saline soil has concurrent alkalization problems, conferred by high amounts of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). Compared with pure neutral salt stress, combined saline-alkaline stress always results in higher cellular oxidative stress, more serious trophic ion imbalance, reduced osmotic adjustment capacity, and reduced uptake rates of essential nutrients (Fang et al., 2021). According to the salt concentration and pH value of the soil, saline-alkaline stress can be classified into three levels: mild (salt content ≤ 0.3%, pH 7.1–8.5), moderate (salt content 0.3–0.6%, pH 8.5–9.5), and severe (salt content ≥ 0.6%, pH 9.5) stresses (Oster et al.,1999). With the progress of saline-alkaline tolerant crop breeding, the mild and moderate saline-alkaline soils are expected to be developed for crop production.

Soil saline-alkalization is becoming a major constraint for agricultural production, seriously threatening ecosystems and food security globally. An estimated 50% of total agricultural land will be salinized by 2050 due to factors such as low precipitation, high surface evaporation, poor cultural practices, over application of chemical fertilizers and so on (Jamil et al., 2011). It is important to note that approximately 60% of the saline soil has concurrent alkalization problems, conferred by high amounts of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). Compared with pure neutral salt stress, combined saline-alkaline stress always results in higher cellular oxidative stress, more serious trophic ion imbalance, reduced osmotic adjustment capacity, and reduced uptake rates of essential nutrients (Fang et al., 2021). According to the salt concentration and pH value of the soil, saline-alkaline stress can be classified into three levels: mild (salt content ≤ 0.3%, pH 7.1–8.5), moderate (salt content 0.3–0.6%, pH 8.5–9.5), and severe (salt content ≥ 0.6%, pH 9.5) stresses (Oster et al.,1999). With the progress of saline-alkaline tolerant crop breeding, the mild and moderate saline-alkaline soils are expected to be developed for crop production.

Soil saline-alkalization is becoming a major constraint for agricultural production, seriously threatening ecosystems and food security globally. An estimated 50% of total agricultural land will be salinized by 2050 due to factors such as low precipitation, high surface evaporation, poor cultural practices, over application of chemical fertilizers and so on (Jamil et al., 2011). It is important to note that approximately 60% of the saline soil has concurrent alkalization problems, conferred by high amounts of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). Compared with pure neutral salt stress, combined saline-alkaline stress always results in higher cellular oxidative stress, more serious trophic ion imbalance, reduced osmotic adjustment capacity, and reduced uptake rates of essential nutrients (Fang et al., 2021). According to the salt concentration and pH value of the soil, saline-alkaline stress can be classified into three levels: mild (salt content ≤ 0.3%, pH 7.1–8.5), moderate (salt content 0.3–0.6%, pH 8.5–9.5), and severe (salt content ≥ 0.6%, pH 9.5) stresses (Oster et al.,1999). With the progress of saline-alkaline tolerant crop breeding, the mild and moderate saline-alkaline soils are expected to be developed for crop production.