How to Improve Soil Health in Saudi Arabia: A Literature Review (2015–2025)

Soil health is a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture in arid and hyper-arid regions, where soil degradation threatens both food security and ecological stability. In Saudi Arabia, soils are predominantly sandy, calcareous, and extremely low in organic matter, while intensive irrigation practices often accelerate salinity, sodicity, and erosion. This review synthesizes recent research published between 2015 and 2025 on evidence-based practices for improving soil health under Saudi conditions. A systematic search of peer-reviewed journals and policy reports was conducted, focusing on chemical, physical, and biological soil-health indicators. The analysis highlights key interventions including the application of organic amendments derived from date-palm residues, biochar for improving water retention and salinity buffering, gypsum and halophyte-based reclamation of sodic soils, water-smart irrigation combined with treated wastewater reuse, conservation agriculture with residue retention, microbial inoculants such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria, and erosion control through vegetation restoration and shelterbelts. Policy frameworks such as the Saudi Green Initiative and the National Center for Vegetation Cover are identified as critical enablers of adoption. Research gaps remain in long-term field trials, salinity thresholds under wastewater irrigation, and economic feasibility of large-scale residue valorization. This review concludes that integrating local organic resources, water-efficient irrigation, and biologically based practices within national policy frameworks offers the most promising pathway to achieving land-degradation neutrality and sustainable soil health in Saudi Arabia.