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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

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