Abstract: Based on the background information and the personal impression obtained during a short visit to Tarim River basin, a few problems may be defined and a proposal is presented for establishing a salinity laboratiory in the Tarim river basin of Xinjiang. The problems encountered in the Tarim river basin can be grouped into four categories: (1) Salt reclamation through leaching and resalinization following irrigation; (2) Sodicity (alkalinity) problems; (3) Impermeable subsoil layers; (4) Irrigation water salinity. In order to ensure a sustainable irrigation agriculture in Xinjiang, the water utilization efficiency for both irrigation and leaching will have to be improved. The solution for the existing problems and the prevention of future problems for sustainable production requires good quantitative information. It is considered that to establish a salinity laboratory in the Tarim River basin will be not only immediately applicable to Xinjiang's salinity problems, but its results will be valuable also for other arid regions suffering from the similar problems in China.

Key words: irrigation agriculture, salinity, leaching process, Tarim River