Saline soil (White Alkali)

Saline Soils (Alkali Soils)

Characteristics

  • High toxic concentration of soluble salts in the rootzone.
  • Soluble salts are Cl- and SO42- of Na, Ca and Mg.
  • Electrical conductivity (EC) of soil solution saturated extract is more than 4.0 dS/m at 25°C, ESP is <15% and pH is <8.5.

Formation of Saline Soil

  • Common in arid and semi-arid regions having rainfall less than 55 cm.
  • Lots of salts are deposited on soil surface in saline soils and saline soil layer shines white in dry season.

Favourable Conditions

  1. High water table with a fairly high salt concentration
  2. High temperature
  3. Low rainfall

Sources of Salts

  • Soil, ground water, irrigation water, canal and sea.

Reclamation

  1. Remove excess salt to a desired level in the rootzone.
  2. Leach with good quality water.
  3. Give adequate drainage.
  4. Intermittent ponding of water.
  5. Salt tolerant crops are grown during initial period.
Last modified: Tuesday, 8 November 2011, 9:55 AM