Table of Contents
What is soil salinization caused by?
What Causes Soil Salinization? Soil salinization occurs when soluble salts are retained in the earth. It happens either naturally or because of improper anthropogenic activities, particularly farming practices. Besides, some earths are initially saline due to low salt dissolution and removal.
How does Salinisation occur?
Salinisation occurs when the water in soils evaporates in high temperatures, drawing salts from the soil to the surface. These salts are toxic to many plants and make the land unusable.
What is alkalization of soil?
Alkalinization is the process of rise in pH during the accumulation of sodium carbonates (this process is explained in more detail in the section “Formation of Soil Carbonates and Alkalinity”).
What is salinization in the soil quizlet?
salinization. a process in which mineral salts accumulate in the soil, killing plants; occurs when soil in dry climates are irrigated profusely, A process in which mineral salts accumulate in the soil, killing plants; occurs when soils in dry climates are irrigated profusely.
What is salinity soil?
Soil salinity is the amount of dissolved salts in the soil solution (the aqueous phase in the soil). The process of accumulating soluble salts in the soil is known as salinization. Salts in the soil have an important effect on the functions and management.
What is soil Sodification?
Salinisation and sodification are processes that involve salts in the soil. Salinisation is the accumulation of salts whereas sodification is an accumulation of sodium on clay exchange sites leading to structural decline; sodium is transported into the soil via the sodium chloride salt.
What causes Sodification?
Salinisation and sodification are often associated with irrigated areas where low rainfall, high evapotranspiration rates or soil textural characteristics impede the washing of salts out of the soil, which subsequently build up in the surface layers.
How sodic soils are formed?
How do sodic soils form? Sodic soils occur when soil is saturated with sodium salts and the exchange sites contain exchangeable sodium that usually persists even when the soluble salts are removed.
Where does salinity come from?
Primary salinity (also called natural salinity) Primary salinity is caused by natural processes such the accumulation of salt from rainfall over many thousands of years or from the weathering of rocks.
What is soil Alkalization?
What are the main causes of soil salinity and Sodicity *?
Natural Causes. Primary salinization and sodification are the processes of salt and sodium accumulation due to natural causes, namely mineralogy of the parent material, topography, and water table quality. Both sodium and other ions are products of primary mineral weathering.
What is saline soil?
In terms of agricultural use, saline soil is defined as one that inhibits the growth of most crops because of the higher concentration of neutral soluble salts in it. The salinity of the soil (and also of water) is measured by electrical conductivity (EC), expressed in dS m−1 (deciSiemens per meter).
How saline soil is formed?
In arid areas, saline soils are formed due to evapotranspiration and lack of rainfall to flush the soils. Finally, wind in coastal areas can blow moderate amounts of salts inland.
What are the sources of salts that accumulate in soils?
A soil may be rich in salts because the parent rock from which it was formed contains salts. Sea water is another source of salts in low-lying areas along the coast. A very common source of salts in irrigated soils is the irrigation water itself. Most irrigation waters contain some salts.
What is soil salinization?
Soil salinization is a major process of land degradation that decreases soil fertility and is a significant component of desertification processes in the world’s dryland (Thomas and Middleton, 1993 ).
What is soil salinity and why does it matter?
Visibly salt-affected soils on rangeland in Colorado. Salts dissolved from the soil accumulate at the soil surface and are deposited on the ground and at the base of the fence post. Soil salinity is the salt content in the soil; the process of increasing the salt content is known as salinization. Salts occur naturally within soils and water.
What causes soil to become saline?
Over long periods of time, as soil minerals weather and release salts, these salts are flushed or leached out of the soil by drainage water in areas with sufficient precipitation. In addition to mineral weathering, salts are also deposited via dust and precipitation. Salts may accumulate in dry regions, leading to naturally saline soils.
How can human practices increase the salinity of soil?
Human practices can increase the salinity of soils by the addition of salts in irrigation water. Proper irrigation management can prevent salt accumulation by providing adequate drainage water to leach added salts from the soil.