Salinity stress decreases crop production by 50 % in irrigated farming systems of the arid and semi-arid regions, worldwide. At application rate of 720 t beef feedlot ha(-1) per year, large increases in exchangeable Na and K decreases crop yields on agricultural land treated with high levels of manure and this was attributed to salt and ammonium toxicity in the soil. Increases in salt level of irrigation water from electrical conductivity (EC) of 0.5 dS m(-1) to EC of 2.8 dS m(-1), which had a sea salt level of 0.2 % decreased fruit vegetable biomass by 4.5 mg plant(-1) whilst an increase in the EC of irrigation water from 0.5 dS m-1 to EC of 5.4 dS m(-1), which had sea salt level of 0.4 % decreased fruit vegetable biomass by 9 mg plant(-1). Apart from the decrease in crop yield caused by salinity, this phenomenon also decreases the productivity level of ruminant animals, particularly animals which their feeding predominantly depends on the grazing of grass and forage terra firma. Salinity has been reported as one of the major environmental factors playing a key role in soil degradation. Studies from various parts of the world indicated that the process of degradation is related to the dynamics of ground water, which is dependent on soil type, cropping systems and the condition of irrigation networks. Presently, research focus on crop productivity is propelled towards providing for today and future generations. Hence, the need to preserve arable land for agriculture becomes imperative. To this end, this paper reviews the effect of salinity on germination, seedling emergence; crop growth and crop yield. The paper also reviews the relationship between soil salinity and crop breeding. We reviewed that the response of crops' seedlings to salt level is crop and soil (growth medium) specific. While tomato, onion and cabbage had 85 %, 99.6 % and 86.5 % seedling survival rate, respectively, in a healthy soil with very low EC -0.08 mmh cm(-1) 25 degrees C, 7 days after transplanting, the survival rate of these vegetables were found to be 3.0 % for tomato; 0 % for onion and 15 % for cabbage. Our review indicates that the salt level in terms of EC, to which most leafy vegetables can tolerate in goat manure, used as nutrient source, for the cultivation of these crops, is between 480 and 650 mS m(-1). The decrease in the growth of grain crops as a result of increasing salt level in irrigation water was also reviewed. In regard to this, our review indicates a decrease in the growth of rice in terms of the crop height, when the salt level of irrigation water was increased from 0 to 12 dS m(-1) at 35 days after planting; 65 days after planting and at maturity stage. It was also reviewed that at 10 dS m(-1) ECe salinity level, only crops with high salt tolerant ability have no reduction in yield while sensitive plants have their yield drastically declined due to the excessiveness of salt in the soil. It was revealed in this review, that in soil irrigated with non -saline water, the interaction effects between salinity stresses and genotypes on plant height were slightly different, among the varieties of a particular crop species. However, in the case of soil irrigated with saline water, there were significant differences in the ability of the various varieties of the crop species to tolerate high salt level. In this review, a few strategies were pointed out as means of overcoming the decrease in crop productivity associated with soil degradation induced by salinity stress. Among these strategies is the use of organic mulches or gypsum or a combination of both to soil irrigated with saline water. The exploitation of the genetic variability of available germplasm for the identification of tolerant genotype, which may sustain a considerable yield under salt affected soils was also indicated as a strategy. The growing of halophytic plants was also pointed to be among the strategies. The use of halophytes was recommended due to their capacity to sequester sodium chloride (NaCl) in vacuoles and to produce compatible osmotic characteristic in the cytoplasm. Also, due to the ability of the plants having a diversity of secondary mechanisms to handle excess salt. Apart from the consideration always given to soil analysis before crop cultivation, the need to also consider the analysis of electrical conductivity of the irrigation water that has been considered for use in crop husbandry is imperative to avoid the reduction in crop yield caused by salinity.