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Saline-sodic and sodic soils are characterized by the occurrence of excessive Na+ that adversely affect soil properties. Takyric solonetz, a saline-sodic soil with a poor structure, a low permeability (saturated hydraulic conductivity <0.1 mm d(-1)) and a considerable CaCO3, widely distributes in arid regions, Northwest China. A 3-year field experiment was conducted toreclaim this impermeable saline-sodic wasteland with an improved drip irrigation, where a sand-filled niche beneath drip emitter was adopted for ridge cultivation of Lycium barbarum L. Through the extensive sampling in soil transects, the salt characteristics and redistributions of soluble cations were evaluated. Results indicated that the soil properties that hindered takyric solonetz from being reclaimed orderly were, soil salinity, structure, alkalinity, and the concentrations of other ions (e.g. K+). Salt leaching through the water regulation had the highest priority in reclaiming takyric solonetz, and followed by improving soil structure through changing ions composition and reducing soil sodicity. After reclamation, soil Na+ concentrations decreased in root zone, but increased in top layers of ridge slope and furrow, while the increases of K* were only found beneath drip line, behaving little mobility with water flow. Considerable increases of divalent cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) occurred beneath drip line, but no obvious changes occurred in other regions of soil transect. It was concluded that irrigation water and dissolution of intrinsic CaCO3 provided sufficient Ca2+ to replace the excessive Na+, and the replaced Na+ was leached out of root zone, resulting in a decrease of soil sodicity and improvement of soil structure. The reclamation measures were expected to have good sustainability, which was supported theoretically by the priorities of actions derived from salt characteristics. Thus, this improved drip irrigation provided a potential substitute for the costly amendments to ameliorate impermeable saline-sodic soils, especially with considerable amount of CaCO3. (c) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.