Characteristics of Coastal Saline Soil and their Management: A Review
C. Arulmathi, G Porkodi
Abstract
The salinity is mainly due to the presence of saline ground water at shallow depths and frequent flooding and sea water intrusion in low-lying areas. The intrusion of seawater into aquifers can occur directly, but also occurs a number of complex geochemical processes such as mixing between aquifers, mobilization of salt water, water-rock interactions and anthropogenic pollution. NaCl and Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> are the dominant salts with an abundance of dissolved cations in the order Na> Mg> Ca> K. The salt reaches the soil surface through capillary rise during dry season and makes the soil saline and unproductive for agriculture. Salinity ranges 0.5 dSm-<sup>1</sup> in monsoon and 50 dS m<sup>-1</sup> summer. A better understanding of the nature, properties and constraints associated with different coastal soil groups is needed to implement better management practices to increase the productivity and quality of saline soil.