University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Measuring soil salinity

chapter
posted on 2023-05-22, 13:50 authored by Marcus HardieMarcus Hardie, Richard DoyleRichard Doyle
Soil salinity is a form of land degradation in which salts accumulate in the soil profile to an extent that plant growth or infrastructure are negatively affected. A range of both field and laboratory procedures exist for measuring soil salinity. In the field, soil salinity is usually inferred from apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) using a range of devices, depending on the required depth of analysis, or size of the survey area. Field measurements of ECa require calibration to the actual salt content by laboratory analysis. In the laboratory, soil salinity is usually assessed by determining either the total soluble salts by evaporation of a soil water extract (TSS), or by determining the electrical conductivity (EC) of either a 1:5 distilled water:soil dilution, or a saturated paste extract. Although procedures for measuring soil salinity appear relatively straightforward, differences in methodology have considerable influence on measured values and interpretation of results.

History

Publication title

Plant Salt Tolerance: Methods and Protocols

Editors

S Shabala and TA Cuin

Pagination

415-425

ISBN

978-1-61779-985-3

Department/School

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)

Publisher

Humana Press

Place of publication

New York

Extent

28

Rights statement

Copyright 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Coastal and estuarine systems and management not elsewhere classified

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC