Salt affected soils are soils containing soluble salts that negatively impact plant growth. They are classified as saline soils containing neutral salts or alkali soils containing soluble sodium salts. Saline soils occur in arid regions due to insufficient rainfall for leaching salts out of the soil. Alkali soils form due to accumulation of soluble sodium salts that disperse soil particles. Management of salt affected soils involves physical measures like leaching and drainage, chemical amendments like gypsum, and soil management practices like basin irrigation and growing salt tolerant crops.
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Characterisation and management of salt affected soils (1)
2. SALT AFFECTED SOILS
When salts more soluble than calcium carbonate and
gypsum are present in the soil and affect crop growth and yield of
most crops these soils are considered salt affected.
•In 1954, the US Salinity Laboratory grouped salt affected soils in to
Saline soil
Alkali soil
Saline –Alkali
•Due to the effect of two common kind of salts (neutral and alkali
salts) it is grouped in to
saline and alkali soil
3. Salt Affected Soils
– Occur when rainfall is not sufficient for
adequate leaching of salts
– Common in arid regions
– Can ruin soils for agriculture
Common salt ions
• Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, Cl-, SO4
2-,HCO3
-,CO3
2-
5. The salt-affected soils account for 6.727 Mha
equivalent to 2.1 % of the geographical area of the
country.
Out of the total 6.727 million ha of salt-affected soils,
2.956 million ha are saline
3.771 million ha are sodic.
Salt affected soils in India
6. a) Chemical Characteristics
i) EC of the saturation soil extract is more than 4 dSm-1
ii) pH of the soil is less than 8.5 (< 8.5)
iii) ESP is less than 15 (<15)
b) Physical Characteristics
i) Soil Structure- Usually good
ii) Infiltration rate- High
iii) Soil Aeration- Good
iv) Colour- Usually white
SALINE SOIL - Characterization
7. Concentration of neutral salts(Cl-, SO4
2-) is higher than alkali
salts(HCO3
-,CO3
2-)
Characterised by saline efflorescence, white encrustation of
salts at the surface.
Salts raise the osmotic potential of the soil solution reduces
available soil water
Plants have to use more energy to get the water they need
SALINE SOIL- “White Alkali” soils
8. The process by which the saline soil formed is called
Salinization.
Saline soils occur mostly in arid or semi arid regions.
In arid regions - due to less rainfall and high evaporation rate
which tend further to concentrate the salts in soils and in surface
waters.
Saline soil - Formation
9. Stunted growth
Wilting
Bluish-green color
Necrosis of leaf tips
Drought stress symptoms
Specific toxicities eg. Boron
Plant species vary in salt tolerance
Salt injury -High salt levels when high rates of fertilizer or
manure applied
Effects of saline soil on plants
10. a) Chemical Characteristics
i) EC of the saturation soil extract is less than 4 dSm-1
ii) pH of the soil is more than 8.5
iii) ESP is higher than 15
b) Physical Characteristics
i) Soil Structure - very poor (soil is in highly dispersed condition)
ii) Infiltration rate - very poor
iii) Soil Aeration - very poor
iv) Colour- Usually black
Alkali Soil - Characterization
11. Alkali Soil - “Black Alkali” soils
•Concentration of alkali salts(HCO3
-,CO3
2-) is higher than neutral
salts(Cl-, SO4
2-).
•Main problem is the effect of sodium on flocculation and
aggregation of soil particles
•Sodium causes the soil particles to disperse
No aggregation of soil particles
Individual clay particles clog soil pores
Poor soil physical properties
13. Effect of Alkali soil on plants
Specific toxicity to Na
sensitive plants
Nutrient deficiencies or
imbalances
High pH
14. Management of Salt affected soil
Physical
measures
Chemical
measures
Soil management
measures
15. Physical measures
1. Leaching :
When soil elements after dissolving with water go
down from upper parts to the lower level, it is called
leaching.
In this method, saline elements of the soil are
transferred to lower levels after dissolving with water.
This water, along with the supply of water to crops,
takes away salts after dissolving them. That is why more
water is required in this method.
16. Scratching:
•Many times the salts are collected in a large quantity and it looks
like a heap.
•Then it has to be scratched out from the field to reduce salinity
of the soil.
•This method not practicable on a large scale.
Drainage:
•With drainage of additional water, concentration of salts does not
take place.
•Drains may be constructed in the field so that excess water keeps
on discharging.
17. Chemical Measures
•Reclamation of alkali / sodic soils requires neutralization of
alkalinity and replacement of most of the sodium ions from
the soil – exchange complex by the more favourable calcium
ions.
1. Solvent Calcium Salt : Gypsum and Phospho Gypsum
2. Little Soluble Calcium Salt: Lime Stone
3. Acid and Acid Producing : Sulphur, Acid of Sulphur, Pyrites
Gypsum is the most commonly used chemical amendment.
18. Soil management measures
Preparation of the Field
•Fields should be kept leveled .
•Water distribution during irrigation is balanced in leveled field
which prevents concentration of salts.
Preparation of Basin and Sowing
•Sowing of crop should be done on the slope by following furrow
and basin method.
•In basin irrigation, the salt collects near the basin, the adverse
effect of which is visible on plants.
•Special attention should be given to irrigation.
Reduction in Evaporation
Growing of Crops Bearing Salts and Alkali condition
19. Reference
•R. K. Gupta, I. P. Abrol, Salt-Affected Soils: Their
Reclamation and Management for Crop Production, Advances
in Soil Science vol. 11 pp. 223-288.
•http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5871e/x5871e03.htm