TOLERANCE OF CEREAL CROPS TO SALINE SOILS IN SASKATCHEWAN

Abstract

The tolerance of cereal crops to soil salinity was measured by relating visual observations of four levels of crop growth to conductivity and cation contents of extracts from water saturated soil. The composite soil samples were secured from areas in the Brown, Dark Brown, and Black soil zones where variable conditions of salinity had restricted crop growth to different degrees.Wheat was the least tolerant and barley the most tolerant of the three cereals. Oats appeared to be as tolerant as barley in the Black soil zone.Although conductivity is the dominant factor, variations in carbonate, gypsum and water soluble cations must also be considered when relating salinity to crop growth. Limits of tolerance as measured by conductivity are apparently lower for soils high in carbonates and for soils in which the water soluble sodium is high and the calcium low. The limits appear to be higher for soils high in gypsum.