[Systematic management and ecological restoration of saline-alkali soils in China: A review]

The remediation of saline-alkali land is critical for global food security, regional sustainable development, and the stability of ecological barriers. In recent years, related research and remediation strategies have shifted from a narrow agricultural focus toward an integrated approach centered around ecological priorities. We reviewed the principle-based framework for remediation that grounds in "water resource-based zoning", centers on "soil structure restoration", and aims for "systematic governance". Water resource-based zoning emphasizes differentiated remediation strategies that consider water resource constraints and carrying capacity assessments. Restoring soil structure is pivotal for regulating water-salt dynamics and nutrient cycling, necessitating the synergistic application of biological, physical, and chemical measures. Systematic governance seeks to harmonize biological, environmental, and socio-economic factors to achieve outcomes with ecological priority. In the future, it is essential to develop an interdisciplinary theoretical framework, advance efficient, low-cost, and eco-friendly integrated remediation technologies, and establish evaluation and incentive mechanisms that incorporate the value of diverse ecosystem services. These measures will facilitate the large-scale and sustainable implementation of saline-alkali land remediation.