Salinity

Robbins, C.W. (1992) Salinity. In: Parker, S.P., (ed.) Soil. Encyclopedia of Science & Technology (7th Edition), Vol. 16. pp. 562-563. McGraw-Hill Inc., New York.

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Abstract

Soluble salt and exchangeable cation concentrations
play major roles in determining the pH, physical
characteristics, and chemical composition of soils.
When a salt dissolves in water, it dissociates or separates
into cations and anions. The predominant cations
in salt-affected soils are calcium (Ca2+), magnesium
Mg2+), sodium (Na+), and potassium (K+);
the predominant anions are chloride (Cl-), sulfate
(SO42-), carbonate (CO32-), and bicarbonate (HCO3-).

Clays and organic matter contain negative electrical
charge sites. In salt-affected soils, this charge is satisfied
by calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium
ions. These cations, bound to the exchange sites
by the electrical charges, are known as exchangeable
cations because they can be removed from the
charged surface only by replacement with another cation
from the soil solution

Item Type:	Book Section
NWISRL Publication Number:	0760
Subjects:	Mass Import - unclassified
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	07 Mar 2008 18:51
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2016 17:29
Item ID:	779
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/779