In safely and continuously ...

In safely and continuously irrigating with saline water there are many considerations - water salinity, Sodium Adsorption Ratio, presence of contaminants e.g. Fluoride, maintaining hydraulic conductivity and structural integrity of selected soils for irrigation, capacity for adequate leaching of salts through and beyond the soil profile, adequate depth to closest aquifer to ensure nil/minimal impact on groundwater salinity. In Queensland there are coal seam gas water irrigation projects that have been safely irrigating agroecosystems involving salinity tolerant forests and grazed pastures at about 8 ML/ha/yr of 4000 uS/cm EC  / SAR 25 water for 12 year. Managing irrigation water and or soil water bicarbonate through sulphuric acid and gypsum pre-treatment of water to be pumped or regular soil application of agricultural grade gypsum and bentonite sulphur to soil surfaces, backed with regular soil monitoring, has been critical for success. These systems have involved Australian Soil Orders - Tenosols, Kandosols, Dermosols and Vertosols. Irrigating 12000 mg/L TDS water would require dilution with appropriate quantities of high quality surface or groundwater, ensuring all contaminants e.g. F fall within regulatory limits and that the proposed irrigation regime is modelled to ensure adequate leaching of applied salts through the soil profile and there will not be measurable impacts on underlying aquifer salinity. Depending on choice of crop plant foliar tolerance of irritant salinity may be less than for root uptake. This may cause preference for centre pivot drop tube  or drip irrigation versus sprinkler irrigation systems. In  Queensland flood irrigation of the above saline water would require a specific feasibility study and may be excluded under current regulatory guidelines.