Summary Land use in arid and semi-arid regions is a serious challenge for sustainable production, owing not only to drought and climate change but also to water availability. Irrigated perimeters in these regions are subject to secondary salinization that negatively impacts soil quality and agricultural productivity. Monitoring and diagnosing the extent of soil contamination requires a more innovative approach to optimize rehabilitation of affected areas. In the present study, diagnosing of saline soil degradation is conducted by using two key indicators: electrical conductivity of saturated paste extract (ECe) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (HCs). The results of the study reveal that the value of ECe in 85% of the Lower Chellif Plain area (north-west Algeria) is ECe < 2 dS m⁻¹, while 78% of the area is moderately permeable. These findings underscore high spatial variability in salinity distribution, indicating that the process of salinization has not yet reached a critical stage. Furthermore, it is concluded that ECe and HCs are appropriate indicators for diagnosing salinity of soil in relation to its structural and permeability characteristics.