Managing soil salinity

By reading other sections of this module, you learned that the wetting pattern in irrigated soil differs with water application method, and that water applied in excess of ET drains past the bottom of the root zone. You also learned that salts move along with soil water, that evapotranspiration increases the concentration of salt in the root zone, and that the leaching fraction (LF) regulates the accumulation of salt in the soil profile.

The salinity of soil can be controlled, or at least managed, by considering and manipulating these and other factors. Options for controlling and managing soil and water salinity include:

• Increase the leaching fraction (LF).
• Blend saline irrigation water with less-saline water.
• For trees, shrubs, and ground covers of differing ET located near one another, modify the method by which irrigation water is applied, or the depth of irrigation, or both.
• Carry out reclamation leaching.
• Improve the soil's internal drainage.

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