Soil Management Handbook - Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
Soil Management Handbook - Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
Soil Management Handbook - Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
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Depending on the classification <strong>of</strong> the soil, the<br />
remedial measures required to manage the salts are<br />
different for each group. The following gives a brief<br />
outline <strong>of</strong> the management tools for salt affected soils.<br />
Saline<br />
• Drainage to remove excess groundwater or assist<br />
in removal <strong>of</strong> leached salts.<br />
• Application <strong>of</strong> non-saline irrigation water.<br />
• Growth <strong>of</strong> salt tolerant crops.<br />
• Incorporation <strong>of</strong> organic matter preferably not<br />
manure or compost as they <strong>of</strong>ten contain high<br />
levels <strong>of</strong> soluble salts.<br />
Saline-Alkali<br />
• Drainage to remove excess groundwater or assist<br />
in removal <strong>of</strong> leached salts.<br />
• Addition <strong>of</strong> gypsum, calcium chloride, sulphur or<br />
sulphuric acid to drive carbonates <strong>and</strong> sodium out<br />
<strong>of</strong> the soil. The best choice is gypsum as it is<br />
soluble <strong>and</strong> easy to h<strong>and</strong>le.<br />
• Application <strong>of</strong> non-saline irrigation water.<br />
• Growth <strong>of</strong> salt tolerant crops.<br />
• Incorporation <strong>of</strong> organic matter preferably not<br />
manure or compost as they <strong>of</strong>ten contain high<br />
levels <strong>of</strong> soluble salts.<br />
Non-Saline-Alkali<br />
• Drainage to remove excess groundwater or assist<br />
in removal <strong>of</strong> leached salts.<br />
• Addition <strong>of</strong> gypsum, calcium chloride, sulphur or<br />
sulphuric acid to drive carbonates <strong>and</strong> sodium out<br />
<strong>of</strong> the soil. The best choice is gypsum as it is<br />
soluble <strong>and</strong> easy to h<strong>and</strong>le.<br />
• Incorporation <strong>of</strong> organic matter preferably not<br />
manure or compost as they <strong>of</strong>ten contain high<br />
levels <strong>of</strong> soluble salts.<br />
• Application <strong>of</strong> non-saline irrigation water.<br />
Crops vary in their range <strong>of</strong> tolerance to salts. Grapes,<br />
asparagus <strong>and</strong> squash have a moderate to high<br />
tolerance to salts where as apples, beans <strong>and</strong> clover<br />
are much less tolerant.<br />
<strong>Soil</strong> <strong>Management</strong> <strong>H<strong>and</strong>book</strong> – Okanagan-Similkameen Valleys 59