Soil Salinity and Sodicity Effect on Soil Water Retention and Movement.

Sodic and Saline Soils have increased in occurrence in recent years in North Dakota and are difficult to manage. Soil physical properties are important in the formation of, and improving the function of saline and sodic soils. The effect of soil EC and SAR combinations on soil hydraulic properties were determined on a range of soil textures from sandy loam to silty clay.  Soil COLE, water retention and saturated hydraulic conductivity was determined for soils equilibrated with solutions of EC from 0.5 to 8 dS/m and SAR from 0 to 20.  Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity was determined by the evaporation method for the same soil textures and EC/SAR combinations.