How long does it take for the effects of irrigation with saline water to be evident in the soil?
Soils do not usually become excessively saline from use of saline water in a single irrigation season. It may even take several irrigation seasons to affect the level of salt in the soil solution. The maximum soil salinity in the root zone that results from continuous irrigation with saline water does not occur when salty water is used only a fraction of the time. The only way to be certain of the impacts of saline irrigation water on the soil is to periodically sample and test the water and the soil. Although soil testing will provide a general guideline of the effect irrigation water might be having on soil quality, the chemistry of the soil will only reflect the chemical content of irrigation water after several cropping seasons. Irrigators should realize that groundwater quality can change with time and surface water quality changes seasonally; surface water tends to become more saline as stream flow declines. If an irrigator is going to sample water for testing, the sample should
