Soil and groundwater salinity along drainage ditches in eastern North Dakota

• Published in: Journal of environmental quality Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 335 - 340
• Main Authors: Skarie, R.L, Richardson, J.L, Maianu, A, Clambey, G.K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America 01.10.1986; Crop Science Society of America; American Society of Agronomy
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; AGUAS SUBTERRANEAS; Applied sciences; BASSIN FLUVIAL; Biological and medical sciences; CONTAMINACION DEL SUELO; CUENCAS FLUVIALES; DAKOTA DEL NORTE; DAKOTA DU NORD; DRAINAGE EQUIPMENT; EAU SOUTERRAINE; EQUIPO DE DRENAJE; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GROUNDWATER; GROUNDWATER FLOW; groundwater hydrology; GROUNDWATER RECHARGE; HIDROLOGIA; HYDROLOGIE; HYDROLOGY; MATERIEL DE DRAINAGE; MOUVEMENT DE L'EAU DANS LE SOL; MOVIMIENTO DEL AGUA EN EL SUELO; NORTH DAKOTA; Pollution; POLLUTION DU SOL; Pollution sources. Measurement results; recharge; red river valley, north dakota; RIVER BASINS; SALINE SOILS; SALINIZATION; salt distribution; seepage; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil and water pollution; SOIL POLLUTION; Soil science; SOIL WATER MOVEMENT; SOL SALIN; SUELO SALINO; TERRE HUMIDE; TIERRAS HUMEDAS; wetland classification; WETLANDS; Drainage; Hydrology; Classification; Highway; Infiltration; Water pollution; Ditch; Soil pollution; Aquifer recharge; Wetland; Ground water; Salinity
• ISSN: 0047-2425; 1537-2537
• DOI: 10.2134/jeq1986.00472425001500040004x

The most severely affected saline soils in the Red River Valley of North Dakota are normally observed in linear patterns along shallow roadside drainage ditches. Although the affected areas tend to be small, taken as a group they represent a considerable loss of productivity. Research was conducted to study the relationship between soil salinity and groundwater hydrology adjacent to roadside drains. Data for groundwater depth, electrical conductivity, and chemistry indicated that significant seepage occurs from the ditches. During recharge periods, both depth and salinity of groundwater tended to increase with distance from the drain. Ratios of Ca2+ to Mg2+ and Na+ tended to decrease over the same distance. Maximum salinity of the soil surface was observed where groundwater was of intermediate depth and salinity for a given site. Soils near the drain were most saline at the surface, whereas soils beyond the influence of the ditch exhibited increasing salinity with depth. Seepage rates calculated from soil and groundwater parameters did not correlate with observed values of soil salinity for a given site. The degree of salinization appears more closely related to the frequency that surface water ponds in the drains. Pond permanence was inferred by wetland classification of the drains according to the plant species present.