What role does drainage play in salt and salinity management?
Presence of excessive amounts of salt in the soil or soil water solution is a consequence of either: 1) poor or inadequate drainage, 2) inadequate leaching, or 3) a shallow or upward rising water table, all of which result in net upward water movement out of the soil, thereby leaving salts behind. Consequently, adequate drainage is essential to salt and salinity management. Drainage will help facilitate leaching of salts downward in the soil, while also lowering the water table. Reclamation of saline soils, those which have a conductivity of the saturation extract (ECe) greater than 4.0 dS/m and an exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) less than 15%, can be accomplished by leaching with high quality irrigation water. Chemical amendments are usually not required. Successful reclamation requires adequate drainage and using the appropriate amount of water.
