Salinity in Calcarosols occurs through the presence of sodium, chloride, bicarbonate and sulfate ions, is caused by sodicity, and leads to decreased osmotic potential

Edward G. Barrett-Lennard; Geoffrey C. Anderson; Rushna Munir; David J. M. Hall; Glen Riethmuller; Wayne Parker

doi:10.1071/SR24185

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Salinity in Calcarosols occurs through the presence of sodium, chloride, bicarbonate and sulfate ions, is caused by sodicity, and leads to decreased osmotic potential

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Salinity in Calcarosols occurs through the presence of sodium, chloride, bicarbonate and sulfate ions, is caused by sodicity, and leads to decreased osmotic potential

Edward G. Barrett-Lennard, Geoffrey C. Anderson, Rushna Munir, David J. M. Hall, Glen Riethmuller and Wayne Parker

Soil research (Collingwood, Vic.), Vol.63(3), SR24185

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/SR24185

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Abstract

calcareous soil

clay dispersion

clay mineralogy

exchangeable cations

salinity

sodicity

soil alkalinity

soil chemistry

soluble anions

soluble cations

Context Salinity occurs in sodic soils in Australia, but its effect in Western Australia is poorly understood. Aims We determined the cause of salinity, the ions responsible, and their potential significance as constraints to crop growth on sodic soils at Merredin and Moorine Rock. Methods Soil was collected from 76 profiles to depths of 1.0–1.4 m (388 samples). Samples were analysed for EC1:5, pH, texture, and exchangeable and soluble ions. Results Exchangeable cations were best calculated as the difference between total cations (determined from BaCl2/NH4Cl extracts) and soluble ions (determined from water-soluble extracts). Profiles showed increasing sodicity, alkalinity and salinity with depth. The major soluble cation responsible for salinity was Na+; the major soluble anions were Cl−, HCO3−, SO42−, and CO32−. High salinity in subsoils (depth > 0.2 m) was strongly correlated with dispersive charge (adj. R2 = 0.73). Osmotic potentials were calculated for two levels of gravimetric soil water, the water content of the soils at sampling, or assuming 30% (dry mass basis) soil water. At Moorine Rock, soils mostly had osmotic potentials less than −1.5 MPa. Increasing soil water content to 30% made osmotic potentials less negative. At Merredin, there was strong stratification of osmotic potentials; surface soils mostly had osmotic potentials between 0 and −0.5 MPa, but subsoils mostly had osmotic potentials between −1.0 and −1.5 MPa. Conclusions Crop growth in these landscapes is likely to be constrained by salinity, particularly in dry years.

Details

Title: Salinity in Calcarosols occurs through the presence of sodium, chloride, bicarbonate and sulfate ions, is caused by sodicity, and leads to decreased osmotic potential
Authors/Creators: Edward G. Barrett-Lennard - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
Geoffrey C. Anderson
Rushna Munir
David J. M. Hall
Glen Riethmuller
Wayne Parker
Publication Details: Soil research (Collingwood, Vic.), Vol.63(3), SR24185
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Number of pages: 14
Identifiers: 991005778129507891
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)).
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.45 Soil Science; 3.45.879 Soil Erosion
Web Of Science research areas: Soil Science
ESI research areas: Agricultural Sciences