29/6/2021 Effects of salinity and sodicity on physical and hydraulic properties - Salinity Management

University of California
Salinity Management

Effects of salinity and sodicity on physical and hydraulic properties

Effects of salinity and sodicity on physical and hydraulic properties

Accumulation of sodium in the soil solution and the exchange phase can cause clay
dispersion, especially for smectitic clays, which can affect soil physical and hydraulic
properties by

Reducing structural stability and promoting surface crust formation; increasing

bulk density and mechanical resistance resulting in poor soil tilth and soil
aeration;
Reducing hydraulic conductivity and infiltration rate, which can cause significant
water management problems (see Salinity Management section); and Increasing
runoff and erosion potential due to surface sealing and poor infiltration. 

When ESP exceeds 15%, the higher level of Na+ on the exchangeable sites may cause
the soil aggregates to collapse due to dispersion resulting in water pen
penetration and
soil compaction problems. While this phenomenon occurs naturally in many soils, the
commencement of irrigation with reclaimed wastewater will most likely accelerate
soil property deterioration as the reclaimed wastewater is proportionally higher in
Na+ vs. Ca++ + Mg++.

In soils that contain very low to moderate amounts of exchangeable sodium (i.e.,
exchangeable sodium is <0.7 me/100 g) and have sufficiently low cation exchange
capacities, the adverse effects on soil properties may be lessened considerably or
altogether non-existent. One must recognize that soil sodicity is tied closely to the
chemical properties of the irrigation water. Irrigation water which has a high ratio of
Na+ to Ca++ + Mg++ and low salinity or through the precipitation of calcium with
bicarbonate (HCO3-) to form calcium carbonate (CaCO3) may induce high sodicity.

Likewise, a high SAR can cause soil infiltration problems. Generally, irrigation water
with high SAR value (i.e. SAR > 9) can cause severe restrictions on permeability when
applied to fine textured clay soils over a period of time. But the sodic (SAR) effect of
water is often evaluated together with salinity. At the same SAR level, soil is more
susceptible to dispersion in a low salinity water than in a high salinity water (see the
following figure). In coarse textured (sandy) soils, restrictions on permeability would
be less severe and the water with this magnitude of SAR may be tolerated.

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29/6/2021 Effects of salinity and sodicity on physical and hydraulic properties - Salinity Management

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