# Progress and Prospect of Saline-Alkaline Soil Management Technology: A Review
### The Impact of Saline-Alkaline Soils and the Challenges They Present  
Saline-alkaline soils contain various salt ions, including K\({}^{+}\), Ga\({}^{2+}\), CO\({}_{3}\)\({}^{2-}\), and Cl\({}^{-}\), which alter soil structure and contribute to salt accumulation in the surface layer. This accumulation severely limits plant growth by restricting water and nutrient availability. Additionally, soil compaction worsens the issue by reducing porosity, permeability, and water absorption, further hindering plant establishment and growth [15]. As soil salinization intensifies, it negatively affects soil microorganisms by disrupting their growth, reproduction, metabolism, and enzyme activities. This disruption hinders the breakdown and conversion of organic materials, reducing soil fertility and overall ecosystem diversity, which are crucial for plant life [16]. The persistent accumulation of salt in both the surface and deeper layers of the soil leads to a significant decline in its physical properties and functionality [17]. These effects manifest in several ways, including reduced soil cohesion, increased bulk density, diminished aeration, and severe inhibition of aerobic microbial activity. Such conditions not only promote further salt buildup in the toposoil, but also create a vicious cycle that stunts plant development, ultimately leading to plant withering and, in extreme cases, death [18]. The detrimental effects of soil salinization on plants extend beyond soil structure, affecting plant physiology at multiple levels. It disrupts tissue integrity, interferes with stomatal function, restricts nutrient uptake, and weakens the microbial community essential for soil health and plant growth [19]. The high osmotic pressure created by soluble salts in saline-alkaline soils leads to plant cell dehydration, triggering physiological stress responses similar to those caused by drought. In severe cases, these adverse conditions result in significant growth deformities or even plant mortality [20].  
In light of the serious challenges brought about by land salinization, we must adopt diversified comprehensive management strategies, in accordance with the actual conditions of saline-alkaline areas. Researchers have developed management strategies like improving soil structure, adjusting water balance, enhancing microbial activity, screening and planting salt-tolerant crops, etc., to gradually restore soil health and improve land use efficiency, to create more favorable conditions for agricultural production.  
The reduction and degradation of arable land in China pose significant challenges to the long-term growth of farming, livestock, and the building of ecological systems [21; 22]. The increasing demand for resources is increasing urge for advancing the study and innovation of techniques to enhance salt-affected soils [23]. Therefore, it is necessary to use current methods to neutralize and treat saline-alkaline land.  
This review will comprehensively examine both traditional and advanced techniques for managing saline-alkaline soils. It will focus on established methods such as water conservancy and phytoremediation, while also introducing innovative approaches like wood vinegar. The review will analyze the feasibility, advantages and limitations of these methods, with particular emphasis on the novel application of wood vinegar for treating saline-alkaline land.