SWAP (Soil-Water-Atmosphere-Plant) version 2.0 was evaluated for its capability to simulate crop growth and salinity profiles under various combinations of fresh and saline water use for irrigation at Agra (India), located in a semiarid monsoon climatic region having a deep water table. Best available water (BAW, EC 3.6 dS/m) was used for pre-sowing irrigation to wheat. Simulated results confirmed that a yield potential exceeding 80% could be maintained by substituting saline waters up to 8 dS/m in the absence of fresh water following a pre-sowing irrigation with BAW. This strategy helps to overcome the build-up of salts particularly in years when the monsoon rainfall is below average.