Naturally Saline Boreal Communities as Models for Reclamation of Saline Oil Sand Tailings

Reclaimed landscapes after oil sands mining have saline soils; yet, they are required to have similar biodiversity and productivity as the predisturbance nonsaline landscape. Given that many species in the boreal forest are not tolerant of salinity, we studied the effects of soil salinity on plant communities in natural saline landscapes to understand potential plant responses during the reclamation process. Vegetation–soil relationships were measured along transects from flooded wetlands to upland forest vegetation in strongly saline, slightly saline, nonsaline, and reclaimed boreal landscapes. In strongly saline landscapes, surface soil salinity was high (>10 dS/m) in flooded, wet‐meadow, and dry‐meadow vegetation zones as compared to slightly saline (<5 dS/m) and nonsaline (<2 dS/m) landscapes. Plant communities in these vegetation zones were quite different from nonsaline boreal landscapes and were dominated by halophytes common to saline habitats of the Great Plains. In the shrub and forest vegetation zones, surface soil salinity was similar between saline and nonsaline landscapes, resulting in similar plant communities. In strongly saline landscapes, soils remained saline at depth through the shrub and forest vegetation zones (>10 dS/m), suggesting that forest vegetation can establish over saline soils as long as the salts are below the rooting zone. The reclaimed landscape was intermediate between slightly saline and nonsaline landscapes in terms of soil salinity but more similar to nonsaline habitats with respect to species composition. Results from this study suggest it may be unrealistic to expect that plant communities similar to those found on the predisturbance landscape can be established on all reclaimed landscapes after oil sands mining.     

Some studies of salt-affected soils of Canning,West Bengal

Summary Six profiles from a representative area in the southern part of the deltaic region of Gangetic West Bengal, India, were examined. Of these, one can be termed as normal, another as non-saline alkali, and the remaining four as saline alkali. Of the saline alkali ones, there was one profile which had a rather low pH. The acidic condition of the soil is due to the presence of decaying organic matter in the soil giving rise to what has been termed as a degraded saline alkali soil. In designating the soils as such, the broad conditions of total soluble salts expressed as percentage of sodium chloride per hundred grams of soil and the exchangeable sodium percentage have been used as the criterion. The soils have thus been classified taking into consideration the dominant soil-forming factors active here. Remedial measures to improve these soils include the incorporation of green-manuring crops and the application of soil ameliorants like lime, gypsum and sometimes other chemical amendments. The soils must be surveyed in order to delineate the types of salt-affected soils, and during reclamation, drainage and irrigation measures should not be lost sight of either.     

Effect of Byproducts of Flue Gas Desulfurization on the Soluble Salts Composition and Chemical Properties of Sodic Soils

The byproducts of flue gas desulfurization (BFGD) are a useful external source of Ca²⁺ for the reclamation of sodic soils because they are comparatively cheap, generally available and have high gypsum content. The ion solution composition of sodic soils also plays an important role in the reclamation process. The effect of BFGD on the soluble salts composition and chemical properties of sodic soils were studied in a soil column experiment. The experiment consisted of four treatments using two different sodic soils (sodic soil I and sodic soil II) and two BFGD rates. After the application of BFGD and leaching, the soil soluble salts were transformed from sodic salts containing Na₂CO₃ and NaHCO₃ to neutral salts containing NaCl and Na₂SO₄. The sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), pH and electrical conductivity (EC) decreased at all soil depths, and more significantly in the top soil depth. At a depth of 0–40 cm in both sodic soil I and sodic soil II, the SAR, EC and pH were less than 13, 4 dS m⁻¹ and 8.5, respectively. The changes in the chemical properties of the sodic soils reflected the changes in the ion composition of soluble salts. Leaching played a key role in the reclamation process and the reclamation effect was positively associated with the amount of leaching. The soil salts did not accumulate in the top soil layer, but there was a slight increase in the middle and bottom soil depths. The results demonstrate that the reclamation of sodic soils using BFGD is promising.     

Microbial community biomass and structure in saline and non-saline soils associated with salt- and boron-tolerant poplar clones grown for the phytoremediation of selenium

Poplar trees (Populus spp.) are often used in bioremediation strategies because of their ability to phytoextract potential toxic ions, e.g., selenium (Se) from poor quality soils. Soil microorganisms may play a vital role in sustaining health of soil and/or tolerance of these trees grown in poor quality soils by contributing to nutrient cycling, soil structure, overall soil quality, and plant survival. The effect of naturally occurring salts boron (B) and Se on soil microbial community composition associated with poplar trees is not known for bioremediation strategies. In this study, three Populus clones 13–366, 345–1, and 347–14 were grown in spring 2006 under highly saline, B, and Se clay-like soils in the west side of the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of CA, as well as in non-saline sandy loam soils located in the east side of the SJV. After 7 years of growing in the respective soils of different qualities, soil samples were collected from poplar clones grown in saline and non-saline soils to examine and compare soil quality effects on soil microbial community biomass and composition. The phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis was used to characterize microbial community composition in soils from trees grown at both locations. This study showed that microbial biomass and the amount and proportion of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) community were lower in all three poplar clones grown in saline soil compared to non-saline soil. Amounts of Gram + bacterial and actinomycetes PLFAs were significantly lower in poplar clone 13–366 grown in saline soil compared to non-saline soil; however, they did not differ significantly in poplar clones 347–14 and 345–1. Additionally, amounts of saprophytic fungal, Gram ? bacterial and eukaryotic PLFA remained similar at saline and non-saline sites under poplar clones 347–14, 345–1, and 13–366. Therefore, this study suggested that salinity and B do have an impact on microbial biomass and AMF; however, these poplar clones still recycled sufficient amount of nutrients to support and protect saprophytic fungal and bacterial communities from the effects of poor quality soils.     

Desodification from calcareous saline sodic soil through phytoremediation with Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. and gypsum

The reclamation of saline sodic soils requires sodium removal and the phytoremediation is one of the proven low-cost, low-risk technologies for reclaiming such soils. However, the role of Phragmites australis in reclaiming saline sodic soils has not been evaluated extensively. The comparative reclaiming role of P. australis and gypsum was evaluated in a column experiment on a sandy clay saline sodic soil with EC_e 74.7 dS m^?1, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) 63.2, Na⁺ 361 g kg^?1, and pH 8.46. The gypsum at 100% soil requirement, planting common reed (P. australis) alone, P. australis + gypsum at 50% soil gypsum requirements, and leaching (control without plant and gypsum) were four treatments applied. After 11 weeks of incubation, the results showed that all treatments including the control significantly reduced pH, EC, exchangeable Na⁺, and SAR from the initial values, the control being with least results. The gypsum and P. australis + gypsum were highly effective in salinity (EC_e) reduction, while sodicity (SAR) and Na⁺ reductions were significantly higher in P. australis + gypsum treatment. The reclamation efficiency in terms of Na⁺ (83.4%) and SAR (86.8%) reduction was the highest in P. australis + gypsum. It is concluded that phytoremediation is an effective tool to reclaim saline sodic soil.     

滨海盐渍土壤中不同类型盐生植物富集镉的效应

为了利用被镉污染的滨海盐渍土壤,通过实验对比分析3种不同类型盐生植物对盐渍土中镉的富集效应,以期初步探明不同类型盐生植物在镉污染盐渍土壤修复中的效果。选择的3种盐生植物类型是:聚盐盐生植物,泌盐盐生植物和避盐盐生植物。通过温室盆栽实验,将植物在不同镉含量的盐渍土壤中种植培养60 d,测定和分析不同类型盐生植物对镉的生物浓缩因子、转移系数以及植株内地上部分和根部生物量和镉含量的变化。结果表明,不同镉含量的土壤对碱蓬和芦苇的生长影响较小,对二色补血草的生长影响较大。不同镉含量的土壤中,芦苇地上部分镉的生物浓缩因子变化差异不显著,并且其地上部分吸收镉的百分率较高。碱蓬和芦苇的转移系数大于二色补血草的转移系数,并且碱蓬的转移系数在不同镉含量的土壤中变化不显著;二色补血草的转移系数随着土壤中镉含量的增加而显著增大。3种盐生植物中,碱蓬最具修复镉污染盐渍土壤的潜力,这可能和它是聚盐盐生植物的生理类型有关。芦苇整个植株的地上部分富集镉的总量在3种植物中是最高的,因此,芦苇在镉含量较低时也可以做为镉污染盐渍土壤的修复材料。     

Salinity,water use and yield of maize: Testing of the mathematical model ecosys

There is a need to establish how root water uptake should be calculated under saline conditions, and to test calculated uptake against experimental data recorded under documented site conditions. In this study, the ecosystem simulation model ecosys was expanded to include an ion transfer-equilibrium-exchange model used to calculated electrical conductivity and osmotic potential. This expanded model was tested against experimental data for maize growth and water use reported under different irrigation and salinity levels at four different sites in the western U.S. to determine if salinity effects on crop growth and water use could be modelled from the effects of salinity on soil osmotic potential. The model was able to reproduce reductions in water use and phytomass yields on salinized (10 g total salts kg^–1 water) soils that ranged from 10 to 50% of those on non-salinized controls. In general, these reductions increased with increasing irrigation deficits. These reductions arose in the model from reduced canopy water potentials and conductances caused by reduced osmotic potentials in the saline soils. The hypothesis that salinity effects on crop growth and water use are caused by salinity effects on soil osmotic potential appear to be supported under the range of conditions included in this study. Models such as ecosys that are based on general hypotheses for the effects of salinity upon biological activity may be well adapted for general use in assessing the effects of salinity on crop growth and water use with different soils, managements and climates.     

Nitrogen transformation rates are affected by cover soil type but not coarse woody debris application in reclaimed oil sands soils

Forest floor mineral soil mix (FMM) and peat mineral soil mix (PMM) are cover soils commonly used for reclamation of open‐pit oil sands mining disturbed land in northern Alberta, Canada; coarse woody debris (CWD) is another source of organic matter for land reclamation. We investigated net nitrogen (N) transformation rates in FMM and PMM cover soils near and away from CWD 4–6 years after oil sands reclamation. Monthly net nitrification and N mineralization rates varied over time; however, mean rates across the incubation periods and microbial biomass were greater (p < 0.05) in FMM than in PMM. Net N mineralization rates were positively related to soil temperature (p < 0.001) and microbial biomass carbon (p = 0.045). Net N transformation rates and inorganic N concentrations were not affected by CWD; however, the greater ¹⁵N isotope ratio of ammonium near CWD than away from CWD indicates that CWD application increased both gross N mineralization/nitrification (causing N isotope fractionation) and gross N immobilization (no isotopic fractionation). Microbial biomass was greater near CWD than away from CWD, indicating the greater potential for N immobilization near CWD. We conclude that (1) CWD application affected soil microbial properties and would create spatial variability and diverse microsites and (2) cover soil type and CWD application had differential effects on net N transformation rates. Applying FMM with CWD for oil sands reclamation is recommended to increase N availability and microsites.     

Diversity and salt tolerance of native Acacia rhizobia isolated from saline and non‐saline soils

Re‐establishing native vegetation in stressed soils is of considerable importance in many parts of the world, leading to significant interest in using plant–soil symbiont interactions to increase the cost‐effectiveness of large‐scale restoration. However, effective use of soil microbes in revegetation requires knowledge of how microbe communities vary along environmental stress gradients, as well as how such variation relates to symbiont effectiveness. In Australia, shrubby legumes dominate many ecosystems where dryland salinity is a major issue, and improving plant establishment in saline soils is a priority of regional management agencies. In this study, strains of rhizobial bacteria were isolated from a range of Acacia spp. growing in saline and non‐saline soils. Replicates of each strain were grown under several salinity levels in liquid culture and characterized for growth and salt tolerance. Genetic characterization of rhizobia showed considerable variation among strains, with salt tolerance and growth generally higher in rhizobial populations derived from more saline soils. These strains showed markedly different genetic profiles and generic affiliations to those from more temperate soils, suggesting community differentiation in relation to salt stress. The identification of novel genomic species from saline soils suggests that the diversity of rhizobia associated with Australian Acacia spp. is significantly greater than previously described. Overall, the ability of some symbiotically effective strains to tolerate high salinity is promising with regard to improving host plant re‐establishment in these soils.     

Succession of Bacterial Community Structure and Diversity in Soil along a Chronosequence of Reclamation and Re-Vegetation on Coal Mine Spoils in China

The growing concern about the effectiveness of reclamation strategies has motivated the evaluation of soil properties following reclamation. Recovery of belowground microbial community is important for reclamation success, however, the response of soil bacterial communities to reclamation has not been well understood. In this study, PCR-based 454 pyrosequencing was applied to compare bacterial communities in undisturbed soils with those in reclaimed soils using chronosequences ranging in time following reclamation from 1 to 20 year. Bacteria from the Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes and Bacteroidetes were abundant in all soils, while the composition of predominant phyla differed greatly across all sites. Long-term reclamation strongly affected microbial community structure and diversity. Initial effects of reclamation resulted in significant declines in bacterial diversity indices in younger reclaimed sites (1, 8-year-old) compared to the undisturbed site. However, bacterial diversity indices tended to be higher in older reclaimed sites (15, 20-year-old) as recovery time increased, and were more similar to predisturbance levels nearly 20 years after reclamation. Bacterial communities are highly responsive to soil physicochemical properties (pH, soil organic matter, Total N and P), in terms of both their diversity and community composition. Our results suggest that the response of soil microorganisms to reclamation is likely governed by soil characteristics and, indirectly, by the effects of vegetation restoration. Mixture sowing of gramineae and leguminosae herbage largely promoted soil geochemical conditions and bacterial diversity that recovered to those of undisturbed soil, representing an adequate solution for soil remediation and sustainable utilization for agriculture. These results confirm the positive impacts of reclamation and vegetation restoration on soil microbial diversity and suggest that the most important phase of microbial community recovery occurs between 15 and 20 years after reclamation.     

Reclamation of highly calcareous saline sodic soil using Atriplex halimus and by-product gypsum

The removal of sodium salts from saline soils by salt tolerant crops, as alternative for costly chemical amendments, has emerged as an efficient low cost technology. Lysimeter experiments were carried out on a highly saline sodic soil (ECe = 65.3 dS m(-1), ESP = 27.4, CEC = 47.9 cmole+ kg(-1), and pH = 7.7) and irrigated with canal water (EC = 2.2 dSm(-1), SAR = 4.8) to investigate reclamation efficiency under four different treatments: control (no crop and no gypsum application) (C), gypsum application equivalent to 100% gypsum requirement (G100), planting sea orach (Atriplex halimus) as phytoremediation crop (Cr), planting sea orach with gypsum application equivalent to 50% gypsum requirement (CrG50). Soil salinity (ECe) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) were significantly reduced compared to the control. Average ESP and ECe (dS m(-1)) in the top layer were 9.1, 5.8 (control), 4.8, 3.7 (Cr), 3.3, 3.9 (CrG50), and 3.8, 3.1 (G100), respectively. Atriplex halimus can be recommended as phytoremediation crop to reclaim highly saline sodic clay loam soils.     

Biodegradation of 1080: Testing soils in south‐eastern Australia for sodium fluoroacetate‐degrading micro‐organisms

Sodium fluoroacetate (1080) is a vertebrate poison commonly used for the control of vertebrate pests in Australia. Long‐term environmental persistence of 1080 from baiting operations has likely nontarget species and environmental impacts and is a matter of public concern. Defluorinating micro‐organisms have been detected in soils of Western and central Australia, and Queensland, but not in south‐eastern Australia. The presence or absence of defluorinating micro‐organisms in soils from south‐eastern Australia will assist in determining whether long‐term environmental persistence of 1080 is or is not occurring. Soils from the Central West Slopes and Plains and Central Tablelands of New South Wales were sampled to investigate the presence and capability of 1080 defluorinating soil micro‐organisms. Thirty‐one species of micro‐organisms were isolated from soils from each site after 10 days incubation in a 20 mM 1080 solution. Of these, 13 isolates showed measurable defluorinating ability when grown in a 1080 and sterile soil suspension. Two species, the bacteria Micromonospora, and the actinomycete Streptosporangium, have not been previously reported for their defluorinating ability. These results indicate that defluorinating micro‐organisms are present in soils in south‐eastern Australia, which adds weight to other studies that found that 1080 is subject to microbiological degradative processes following removal from the bait substrate. Soil micro‐organism defluorination, in combination with physical breakdown and uptake by plants, indicates that fluoroacetate in soils and natural water ways is unlikely to persist. This has implications for the better informed use of 1080 in pest animal management programmes in south‐eastern Australia.     

Studies on the Characteristics of Normal and Alkali Soil Profiles from an Alkali Infested Area in Allahabad,India

The development of the profile is mainly the consequence of movement of water in the soil and we may distinguish the following three possibilities:

Firstly under humid condition there is an excess of rainfall over evaporation. Thus, there is a general tendency of downward movement of soil moisture and the soil is subjected to a leaching process, whereby the constituents are carried downwards and are either deposited in the lower horizons or completely removed in drainage water.

Secondly, under arid conditions with an excess of potential evaporation over rainfall, rain moistens the soil to a limited depth. After cessation of rain, the soil moisture rises again to the surface under the influence of evaporation with the result that translocation occurs in both directions, and in final stages of dessication, the deposition of salts from solution may occur throughout an appreciable depth of surface soil.

Thirdly, downward movement may be prevented by the presence of ground water, or the occurrence of impervious sub-soil layer. In such cases water movement can only occur laterally over the horizon of impedence. The impedence may not be complete, but intermediate stages can also be observed.

The development of alkali soil profile is governed either by the second or third or by the combination of both the processes mentioned above.

In India, saline soils, saline-alkali soils and alkali soils are commonly distributed. Leached soils are of very rare occurrence.     

Influence of ionic strength on sodium-calcium exchange of two temperate climate soils

Salt-affected soils have been studied extensively with respect to their Na–Ca exchange properties. These studies have focused on soil environments of the arid West. However, because of irrigation and oil well brine discharges in the temperate region of the U.S. there is need to understand sodicity behavior of such soils. In this study, two Kentucky soils (Pembroke and Uniontown) at the 0–10 cm depth were studied to evaluate the influence of ionic strength (I) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) on cation selectivity coefficients. The data showed that both soils exhibit at least two classes of exchange sites and in general the apparent affinity for Na⁺ increased when solution ionic strength increased. Furthermore, both soils under all three ionic strengths tested showed greater affinity for Na⁺ than the average agricultural saline soil of the arid West. The data suggested the need for establishing critical salt dispersion thresholds for temperate climate soils and developing effective brine management approaches.     

Sodium and Cation Accumulation by Senna (Cassia acutifolia)

Senna plants, native to the arid parts of the northern Sudan,were analysed for mineral cations. Plants tended to accumulate salts in tops, particularly whengrowing in saline soils. Highest concentrations of salts (mostlyCa and Na) were in the leaves with a gradient from bottom totop leaves. Variation in the cation sum was associated withboth Ca and Na contents. Under high salinity, plant growth was reduced without injurysymptoms, but with shedding of some lower leaves. The same symptomswere also noted in plants subjected to soil moisture stress.It is therefore postulated that lower leaf shedding is a physiologicalmeasure for reducing plant salt level and transpiration.     

天津盐碱化沼泽湿地开垦对土壤团聚体有机与无机碳含量的影响

目前,开垦对沼泽湿地土壤有机碳的影响已有较多研究,但针对滨海盐碱化沼泽的研究较为薄弱,特别是对无机碳的影响尚不清晰,从而导致无法全面评估开垦对总碳的影响。本研究选取天津七里海盐碱化沼泽湿地和对应长期开垦(约60年)后的农田作为研究对象,采集0~15和15~30 cm两层土样,采用湿筛法得到>2、0.25~2、0.053~0.25和<0.053 mm 4个粒级水稳性团聚体。结果表明:湿地长期开垦后,表层(0~15 cm)和下层(15~30 cm)土壤大团聚体(>2 mm)比例均显著降低(-48.1%、-58.1%),微团聚体(0.053~0.25 mm)比例均显著增加(+166.1%、+70.0%);各粒级团聚体有机碳含量均显著降低(31.2%~56.8%);表层土壤(0~15 cm)中等团聚体(0.25~2 mm)和矿质颗粒组分(<0.053 mm)无机碳含量显著增加(+85.4%、+75.4%);而下层土壤(15~30 cm)各级团聚体无机碳含量均显著增加(182.3%~448.2%);表层土壤大团聚体(>2 mm)、中等团聚体(0.25~2 mm)总碳含量显著降低(-12.9%、-21.9%),而总碳含量在表层土壤微团聚体(0.053~0.25 mm)、矿质颗粒组分、下层土壤各级团聚体均无显著变化。可见,滨海盐碱化沼泽湿地开垦虽导致有机碳含量降低,但无机碳含量却具有显著反补作用,从而减缓或抑制了碳库流失。因此,在滨海盐碱化地区,今后应更加重视开垦过程中土壤无机碳动态变化及其对总碳的影响。     

Cytomorphological studies in the familySolanaceae from West Pakistan

A project on the chromosome survey of the flora of West Pakistan is in progress and chromosome counts of a large number of species from this region have been reported earlier (Baquar et al. 1965, 1966, 1967). The present paper is a part of this project. Morphological and cytological behaviour of 29 species distributed over 12 genera of the familySolanaceae have been investigated for the first time from West Pakistan. The present investigation shows that the cytological behaviour of the plants of this region is almost similar to those of the other parts of the world. Besides the confirmation of the earlier findings, this report includes four new records namely:solanum albicaule Kotschy n=12;Solanum gracilipes Decne n=12;Withania coagulans Dunal n=24;Datura metel L.n=12.     

Preinoculation of lettuce and onion with VA mycorrhizal fungi reduces deleterious effects of soil salinity

The hypothesis that inoculation of transplants with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi before planting into saline soils alleviates salt effects on growth and yield was tested on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and onion (Allium cepa L.). A second hypothesis was that fungi isolated from saline soil are more effective in counteracting salt effects than those from nonsaline soil. VAM fungi from high- and low-salt soils were trap-cultured, their propagules quantified and adjusted to a like number, and added to a pasteurized soil mix in which seedlings were grown for 3–4 weeks. Once the seedlings were colonized by VAM fungi, they were transplanted into salinized (NaCl) soil. Preinoculated lettuce transplants grown for 11 weeks in the saline soils had greater shoot mass compared with nonVAM plants at all salt levels [2 (control), 4, 8 and 12 dS m^–1] tested. Leaves of VAM lettuce at the highest salt level were significantly greener (more chlorophyll) than those of the nonVAM lettuce. NonVAM onions were stunted due to P deficiency in the soil, but inoculation with VAM fungi alleviated P deficiency and salinity effects; VAM onions were significantly larger at all salt levels than nonVAM onions. In a separate experiment, addition of P to salinized soil reduced the salt stress effect on nonVAM onions but to a lesser extent than by VAM inoculation. VAM fungi from the saline soil were not more effective in reducing growth inhibition by salt than those from the nonsaline site. Colonization of roots and length of soil hyphae produced by the VAM fungi decreased with increasing soil salt concentration. Results indicate that preinoculation of transplants with VAM fungi can help alleviate deleterious effects of saline soils on crop yield.     

Studies on soil fungi III. Seasonal variation and distribution of microfungi in some soils of Andhra Pradesh (India)

The seasonal variation and distribution of microfungi in four soil types collected from two districts of Andhra Pradesh (India) were studied.Besides soil type and surface vegetation, it appears from the present study that soil moisture, organic matter, potassium, calcium, iron and phosphorus contents also may affect the fungal numbers favourably, while chlorides, total soluble salts, total nitrogen and manganese contents may have an adverse effect.Even alkaline soils harbour greater numbers of fungi, but small fluctuations in the pH seem to influence the fungal numbers in soils inversely.A total of 101 species representing 43 genera were isolated. These included 18 Phycomycetes, 5 Ascomycetes, 72 Fungi Imperfecti, 5 Mycelia Sterilia and a single Myxomycete. The order of occurrence of the chief genera of fungi isolated wasAspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Pythium, Curvularia, Phoma, Cunninghamella, Rhizopus, Alternaria andTrichoderma.A large number of genera and species were found common to the forest, maize field, garden and uncultivated soils; and the fungal flora was also not very much different from those recorded from various parts of the world.     

Two Fixed Ratio Dilutions for Soil Salinity Monitoring in Hypersaline Wetlands

Highly soluble salts are undesirable in agriculture because they reduce yields or the quality of most cash crops and can leak to surface or sub-surface waters. In some cases salinity can be associated with unique history, rarity, or special habitats protected by environmental laws. Yet in considering the measurement of soil salinity for long-term monitoring purposes, adequate methods are required. Both saturated paste extracts, intended for agriculture, and direct surface and/or porewater salinity measurement, used in inundated wetlands, are unsuited for hypersaline wetlands that often are only occasionally inundated. For these cases, we propose the use of 1:5 soil/water (weight/weight) extracts as the standard for expressing the electrical conductivity (EC) of such soils and for further salt determinations. We also propose checking for ion-pairing with a 1:10 or more diluted extract in hypersaline soils. As an illustration, we apply the two-dilutions approach to a set of 359 soil samples from saline wetlands ranging in ECe from 2.3 dS m^-1 to 183.0 dS m^-1. This easy procedure will be useful in survey campaigns and in the monitoring of soil salt content.