Sodicity and Salinity

Kristie Watling
NRW, Toowoomba
Ph: 4688 1092
E-mail: kristie.watling@nrw.qld.gov.au

 Salinity is the presence of

excess salt (influences the
growth of plants)

Sodicity is the presence of

excess sodium in the soil
(influences how soil
behaves)

Impacts of Sodicity
Sodicity affects soil by degrading its
structure, creating poor conditions for
plant growth, and making the soil
susceptible to surface crusting and
erosion
Sodium bound to clay particles displaces
more useful cations such as calcium

 The sodium weakens the bonds between

the soil particles when wetted, resulting in
clay swelling and dispersion (particles
becoming detached)
Dispersed clay particles can move through
the soil, clogging pores
Both swelling and dispersion decrease
permeability of soils, thus reducing
infiltration, aeration and drainage

Rainfall

Entry of
runoff

Old
rootline
Impermeable layer

Dispersible clay becomes mobile

Subsurface collapses
forming pipes
Sediment fan
appears on surface

Sodicity is often indicated by crusting in the soil

surface and hardsetting of subsoils

 Soil sodicity is a natural feature of many

Australian soils, both in surface soils and
subsoils

 Soil sodicity can be measured by doing

simple field tests to see what happens to
the soil when water is added
If the clay particles break apart, the soil is
said to be dispersive

 Soil sodicity can also be measured in a

laboratory by determining the
Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP)
which measures how much sodium is in
the soil, compared to other cations like
calcium and magnesium
Soils are considered sodic once the ESP
is above 6%

 Water sodicity can be measured by

determining the Sodium Absorption Ratio
(SAR)

 To understand how sodicity impacts on soils,

remember that soils consist of sheets of clay
arranged on top of each other
The clay attracts and holds onto water and
nutrients because clay surfaces are charged
Different clay types hold different amounts of
water and nutrients
Sodicity is often confused with salinity, because
both salinity and sodicity are associated with
sodium

Exchangeable cations
- implications for physical characteristics of soil

Ca2+ is a desirable cation (promoting aggregation

clay particles are attracted to each other)
Na+ is undesirable (causes dispersion clay
particles are repelled by each other)

Flocculated clay (lots of calcium on the clay surfaces)

Solid soil

Soil solution (water)

Clay particle
Nutrients (e.g. cations, fertilisers etc)

Ca2+
Ca2+
K+

- K+
-

Mg2+

Mg2+

Negative charge on
clay surface

Nutrients (e.g. cations) in the soil water

Salinity v. Sodicity

Non-saline
-

Ca2+
Ca
K+

- K+
-

2+

Mg2+

Mg2+

Non-sodic

Salinity v. Sodicity

Non-saline
-

Na+

Ca2+

- Na+
-

Na+
K+
Mg2+

Mg2+

Sodic

Salinity v. Sodicity

Saline
-

Ca

2+

K+

- K+
-

Non-sodic

Ca2+

Mg2+

Ca2+
K+
Mg2+

K+

Na+

Mg2+

Ca2+

Ca2+

Mg2+

K+

Salinity v. Sodicity

Saline
-

K+

Na+

Na+

Na+
Mg2+

Sodic

Ca2+
Na+

Na+
K+

Mg2+

K+

Na+

Na+ Na+

Ca2+

Ca2+

Mg2+

Na+

Managing Sodic/Dispersive Soils

The best way to manage these soils is not
to disturb them
Gypsum and/or applying organic matter is
often used in agricultural situations
Managing water flows over and through
these soils is very important
During construction, the dispersive soils
can be buried beneath a stable soil cover
Maintaining vegetation on the surface is
also important

Application of gypsum can control surface sodicity,

it is more difficult to treat subsoil sodicity