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Stability of a Calcareous Saline-Sodic Soil During Reclamation

U.S. Salinity Lab., 4500 Glenwood Dr., Riverside, CA 92501

F. Alberto

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, E.E. Aula Dei, Apdo. 202, 50080 Zaragoza, Spain

* Corresponding author ( lebron{at}ucrvms).

ABSTRACT

General guidelines to reclaim saline or sodic soils do not adequately consider variables such as pH and the presence of organic matter that are known to affect soil stability. Poor structural stability of sodic, saline-sodic, and high-pH soils adversely influences crop yields; promotes piping, tunneling, and slope erosion; and can accelerate the failure of water conveyance systems. We evaluated six soil tests, used to measure physico-chemical properties, for their suitability to evaluate the structural stability of a calcareous, saline-sodic soil under reclamation. The stability tests were wilting point, plastic limit, coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE_rod), water content at 0.03 MPa, liquid limit, and dispersion index. The range of electrical conductivity (EC) studied was 0.5 to 20 dS m^–1, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) 0 to 400 (mmol L^–1)^0.5, and pH 8.4 to 10.5. The results obtained indicate that the amount of water necessary for a soil to flow under standard conditions for the liquid limit test decreased an average of 25% when the EC decreased from 40 to 2 dS m^–1. The liquid limit and EC showed a linear correlation (R² = 0.785); therefore, the liquid limit was considered to be an appropriate index to evaluate the physical properties of a soil under a leaching process. Plasticity index and available water were more useful in the evaluation of the mechanical properties of the soil when we used amendments. Liquid limit combined with the water content of the soil at 0.03 MPa was the most useful tool for evaluating soil structural stability during reclamation.

Received for publication May 11, 1993.