Brackish water is being used for irrigation in the North China Plain to combat freshwater depletion. A study used a computer model to simulate 15 years of brackish water irrigation in a crop rotation system. Results showed that using brackish water twice a year, along with freshwater irrigation before planting summer maize, prevented soil salinization. Rainfall helped leach out soil salts, especially in wet years. The study suggests that this irrigation method is a reliable way to grow crops without harming the soil, offering a solution to the water crisis in the region.