Soil Fertility and Nutrient management (1+1)

SALINE SOILS & THEIR MANAGEMENT

Saline soils?

They are defined as soils containing appreciable amounts of soluble salts like chlorides, sulphates of Ca, Mg, K, and Na etc. that interfere with plant growth.

Characteristics of saline soil
The EC of saturation paste extract of these soils is > 4dSm-1, pH of the saturation paste is < 8.2 and the ESP is < 15. They are also known as white alkali soils or solon chalks. These soils lack structural B horizon and contain very little organic matter (<1%). Soluble salts mostly consist of chlorides and sulphates of Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+. Bicarbonates may or may not be present. However carbonates are generally absent.