Soil Salinity Assessment: Methods and Interpretation of Electrical Conductivity Measurements

This paper presents updated technology for assessing soil salinity based on measurement of electrical conductivity. The technology has been extensively and successfully field tested, and it sound, reliable, accurate and suited to a wide variety of useful applications. The required equipment is commercially available. The advocated instrumental methodology is practical, cost effective and well developed for all general applications. It is cheaper, faster and more informative than traditional methods of salinity measurement based on soil sampling and laboratory analysis. The usefulness of the methodology has been demonstrated for diagnosing, inventorying and monitoring soil salinity; evaluating the adequacy and appropriateness of irrigation and drainage system and management practices; determining the sources of excessive leaching, drainage and salt-loading in crop lands; establishing spatial soil salinity information; and scheduling and controlling irrigation under saline conditions.