OCCURRENCE OF SOIL SALINITY IN THE DRY LANDS OF SOUTHWESTERN ALBERTA

Abstract

Considerable groundwater seepage has occurred in the Vulcan region of southwestern Alberta, and high salt concentrations have accumulated in the soil. A study of aerial photographs indicates that the extent of salinity is steadily increasing.Soluble-salt analysis of groundwater, soil and parent geologic-material samples suggests that bedrock, and to a lesser extent till, are the salt sources. Studies of groundwater movement, by means of a dye indicator, piezometers, and water-table levels in shallow wells, suggest both regional and local groundwater flow systems.There has been extensive soil salinization in the area; however, Solonetzic morphological features are not evident in all soils.