The publication of this Handbook was supported by the Russian Federation

O.I. Zhovtonog and L.I. Vorotyntseva (Ukraine)
The application of  a systemic approach, principles and methods of  an integrated management 
system is very important for providing a balanced and sustainable development of  agriculture on 
salt-affected soils and for effective and rational land use.
Integrated approaches to water resource management are widely practiced in the world as, for 
example, the EU Water Framework Directive. Some of  those approaches are vital for solving 
problems of  water resource use in the context of  food production and environment conservation, 
as they allow the solution of  a whole range of  social, ecological and economic issues [6, 23, 24]. 
Therefore, attention is focused on coordinated management of  water, land and associated resources 
aimed at the achievement of  high levels of  social and economic development without destabilizing 
key elements of  ecosystems [2, 3, 22].
The integrated management of  water resources is a process that facilitates the coordinated 
management of  water, land and associated resources with the aim of  maximizing economic 
achievements and social welfare, without comproming the sustainability of  vital ecosystems [22, 
23].
The modern concept of  integrated management of  water and land resources implies water 
management for socio-economic development and ecosystem conservation. The management of  
land and water resources and ecosystems should be unified to benefit the livelihoods of  people and 
for sustainable development. The successful application of  such an approach within salt-affected 
lands can be achieved through professional management, science-based planning, forecast of  trends 
of  soil processes and support of  coordinated multi-disciplinary interactions of  interested parties.
An  ecologically  balanced  use  of   salt-affected  areas  should  take  into  account  local  bioclimatic 
and socio-economic factors in order to enable planning, sustainable development of  agricultural 
production, its further diversification as well as improving the living standards of  rural populations 
and making effective management decisions. Particular attention should be given to social issues to 
achieve improvements in the living standards and increases in the income of  rural populations as 
well as the creation of  jobs and development of  small and medium-sized enterprises.
The development and implementation of  plans for the integrated management of  water and 
land resources within salt-affected lands includes the following stages: project organization, the 
development of  alternative land use plans, the selection of  the best economically substantiated 
integrated plan, the economical assessment of  potential expenditure and income, the ratification 
of  a final plan, identification of  sources of  finance, plan realization and assessment of  results.
Initially, detailed research and assessment of  the state of  natural ecosystems and socio-economic 

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Chapter 4.The rational use of saline and alkaline soils (with examples from Ukraine) 
issues within the territory is required. Such research and assessment should focus on soil cover 
(soil quality), water resources (agricultural and ecological criteria for irrigation water use), water 
use infrastructure and land use plans. On the basis of  the results obtained, a database on local 
natural and agricultural conditions is created, GIS-mapping is carried out and alternative plans of  
water and land resource management within salt-affected lands are drawn up by interested parties. 
These plans are then subjected to an ecological-economic assessment, with the best economically 
substantiated plan selected.
The integration of  different interests and viewpoints during the course of  project implementation 
and the encouragement of  initiatives from the bottom up are very important considerations in an 
integrated management system of  water and land resources within salt-affected areas.
Therefore, the introduction of  principles and plans of  integrated management can provide for 
the rational and coordinated management of  water and land resources within salt-affected areas 
under conditions of  climate change and support water conservation and for the adaptive use of  
salt-affected soils with specific properties to obtain the maximum economic yield.
4.3. Innovation and investment to support the management and use 
of salt-affected soils