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Are there visual indicators of Salinity problems?

cultivated saltbush

There are plants that indicate that there is a salinity problem with your soil.

Some plant species can tolerate high salt concentrations and grow in these areas while others can only live in lower concentrations. Zones or concentric circles of plants can be seen in some areas indicating a change . . . → Read More: Are there visual indicators of Salinity problems?

What is a Piezometer?

measuring the water level in a standpipe with a piezometer

A piezometer is a small-diameter observation well used to measure the hydraulic head of groundwater in aquifers. Similarly, it may also be a standpipe, tube, vibrating wire piezometer or manometer used to measure the pressure of a fluid at a specific location in . . . → Read More: What is a Piezometer?

Can we measure soil salinity change?

Unambiguous measurement of soil salinity can only be done on samples in the laboratory.

Typically the chloride (Cl-) concentration on a dry weight basis is taken to be representative. However, sampling is destructive and the chloride content varies both spatially and with time. So, only with a large number of samples taken systematically under . . . → Read More: Can we measure soil salinity change?

Salinity is a Water Catchment issue.

To solve salinity and other environmental issues we need to manage whole catchments, not just little parts. One town or one farm upstream can cause problems for others downstream.

The satellite image shows a section of the Murrumbidgee catchment with three of it’s sub-catchments.

Dark green/brown represents areas of remnant vegetation . . . → Read More: Salinity is a Water Catchment issue.

Secondary Salinity and it's long-term effects.

Salinity, which has developed by changing land use and management, is called secondary salinity. It is caused by a change in the water balance, leading to more water in the soil and a rising watertable. This mobilises stored salts, which rise with the watertable towards the surface. Clearing for agriculture has been the major . . . → Read More: Secondary Salinity and it’s long-term effects.

Does the risk of Salinity relate to my Rainfall Patterns?

In Australia, soil salinity is an enormous problem. At this time, it would appear that the worst affected areas relate to those areas with winter dominant rainfall.

Less severely affected areas are now being recognised in more uniform rainfall zones (that is, neither summer nor winter dominant), whilst some salinisation is evident in summer . . . → Read More: Does the risk of Salinity relate to my Rainfall Patterns?