MOVEMENT OF SALTS IN AGRICULTURAL SOILS OF SASKATCHEWAN 1964 TO 1975

Abstract

The salt concentration in the upper 122 cm of moderately saline Chernozemic soils at 64 sites in central Saskatchewan fluctuated from year to year. The yearly change in salinity of a site ranged from near zero to 35%. There were always changes in the salt concentrations at some sites in the opposite direction to the average change in the area. Fluctuations in water-soluble salts occur below the depth of apparent soil profile development of many Saskatchewan soils. Salt change is a complex phenomenon. Yearly variations are not related to any single factor such as cropping practice, topography or profile type. Ca or Mg or Na can be shown to have the greatest yearly net change in concentration depending on the selection of a specific site and depth. The highest chloride content of any sampling depth or year was 88.4 meq/ℓ of saturation extract and was equivalent to 42% of the cations present.