Abstract

LOSINNO, Beatriz N.; SAINATO, Claudia M.  and  GIUFFRE, Lidia. Edaphic and groundwater properties: risks of salinization and sodification of soils at the Pergamino-Arrecifes zone. Cienc. suelo [online]. 2005, vol.23, n.1, pp.47-58. ISSN 1850-2067.

The use of groundwater for complementary irrigation may produce salinization and/or sodification of soils. The objective of the research was to evaluate soil salinization and sodification risks by complementary irrigation on the basis of the study of groundwater mineralization, depth of aquifers and physicochemical properties of soils. The aquifer properties obtained from previous geophysical studies were evaluated and a soil sampling was performed analysing the variability and spatial distribution of their physicochemical properties, by means of geostatistical methods. The electrical conductivity of free groundwater (ECf) showed greater values than the deeper levels of the Pampeano aquifer with a direction of groundwater flow NE-SE. This aquifer presented a trend of decrease of their conductivity from west to east. Soil properties such as content of K, Mg, Na, pH, ESP (exchangeable sodium percentage) and electrical conductivity ECS, showed spatial correlation, while P (extractable phosphorus), C (organic carbon), CEC (cation exchange capacity), Ca (calcium) indicated high variability for the sampling scale used. Some deterioration on soils was detected due to the decrease in concentration of K in all the soil series at the study zone, and in a lesser scale the content of Ca and Mg. Topography represented a great part of the ECS variability, lacking any clear influence of the ECf and the depth of water table. The economically productive agricultural zone did not show any severe risk of salinization and sodification of soils by the application of complementary irrigation.

Keywords : Aquifers; Soils; Electrical conductivity; Irrigation.

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