On the dynamics of salts in solonetzic soil complexes of the Pallas irrigation system in relation to fluctuations in the groundwater level and changes in the regime of irrigation

Abstract

Changes in the salt status of solonetzic soil complexes within the Pallas irrigation system were estimated for a field surveyed in 1990 and 2003. The irrigation of this field was stopped in 2000. In 2003, the depth of the groundwater table lowered by 1 m, and the groundwater salinity decreased considerably in comparison with the corresponding values obtained in 1990. The concentrations of Na+ and SO 4 2− ions in water extracts, as well as the ESP values in the upper horizons of solonetzes, became lower. In meadow-chestnut soils, dealkalization processes were active in the entire profile.