This publication is the outcome of an IAEA coordinated research project which addressed the problem of advancing salinity in irrigated soils of arid and semi-arid regions. Seven participating countries presented their studies focusing on alternative strategies and on integrated soil and water management practices. The publication informs readers on ways to improve crop productivity and sustainability through water and salinity management and defines approaches and technologies to assess and monitor soil water content and salinity. The test results of a new landscape soil moisture measuring tool (cosmic ray neutron sensor) for area-wide soil water measurements are also presented.