Saline Soil

A soil which contains a high concentration of chemical elements (called salts). The concentration of these salts will adversely affect the growth of most plants. Saline soils are those which have an electrical conductivity of greater than either 2 or 4 deci-siemens (the depends upon the classification used). The salts within a saline soil are typically the chlorides and sulphates of sodium, calcium and magnesium. Saline soils are typically found in saltmarsh environments, with relatively high concentrations of sodium chloride being present (due to salt water).