* Salinity: YES. "Salinity" refers to the amount of salt dissolved in a substance, usually water.
* Example: "The high salinity of the ocean made it difficult for the ship to float."
* Irrigation: YES. "Irrigation" is the process of supplying water to land to help crops grow.
* Example: "Efficient irrigation techniques are essential for sustainable agriculture."
* Serious: NO. "Serious" is an adjective, describing something as important, dangerous, or requiring attention.
* Rises: NO. "Rises" is a verb, indicating an upward movement.
* Saltpans: YES. "Saltpans" are shallow pools of water where salt is harvested by evaporation.
* Example: "The saltpans stretched as far as the eye could see."
In summary, the words that can be used as nouns are: salinity, irrigation, and saltpans.