Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> The increasing reuse of saline and brackish water for drip irrigation, while essential for addressing global water scarcity, poses a significant challenge through the deposition of salts and subsequent emitter clogging. This review comprehensively synthesizes current scientific literature regarding the mechanisms of salt deposition, focusing on calcium and magnesium carbonate precipitation, alongside the complex interactions between chemical scales, sediment particles, and biological biofilms. We examine diagnostic advancements, particularly the transition toward non-destructive three-dimensional visualization using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). A diverse taxonomy of mitigation strategies is then analysed, ranging from traditional acid washing and ultrasonic treatments to emerging, chemical-free technologies such as water magnetization and Micro-Nano Bubble (MNB) aeration. Quantitative data from the reviewed sources indicate that the use of high-salinity water can lead to a decline in the Discharge Ratio (Dra) and Christiansen Uniformity Coefficient (CU) to as low as <bold>74.0% and 70.9%</bold> , respectively, with calcium carbonate often accounting for <bold>over 88%</bold> of the clogging substance composition. Finally, this review contextualizes these global findings within the Indian agricultural landscape, highlighting regional challenges in coastal and semi-arid ecosystems such as the Ganges Delta and Rajasthan. We conclude that while advanced mitigation and diagnostic tools show great promise, there remains a critical research gap in modelling combined chemical-biological clogging processes and a pressing need for long-term field validation of sustainable anti-clogging technologies tailored for smallholder farmers in India. </p>