Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Saline Soils of the Agricultural Area of Alberta

 
 
Download 245K pdf file ("pg_18_saline_soils.pdf")PDF
(245K)
     Subscribe to our free E-Newsletter, "Agri-News" (formerly RTW This Week)Agri-News
This Week
 
 
 
 Description | Data sources | Potential uses | Limitations | Further information | Download spatial information

Description

This map displays the occurrence of saline soils in the agricultural region of Alberta. A saline soil is a non-alkali (pH less than 8.5 and exchangeable-sodium less than 15%) soil containing soluble salts in great enough quantities that they interfere with the growth of most crop plants.

For this map, saline soils were defined as having a soil horizon with an electrical conductivity (EC) of greater than or equal to 4.0 mS/cm within 30 cm of the surface. This is the level of salinity at which crop growth is significantly reduced. The areal extent of saline soils within each Agricultural Region of Alberta Soil Inventory Database (AGRASID) soil landscape polygon was represented as a percentage of the total area using the following classes: greater than 30, 10 to 30 and less than 10.

Data Sources

The data for this map was derived from AGRASID 3.0. AGRASID is a digital database describing the spatial distribution of soils and associated landscapes within the agricultural region of Alberta.

Potential Uses

Knowledge concerning the distribution of saline soils in the province can be useful in assisting municipalities and producers in targeting salinity control and cost effective management activities.

Limitations

The map gives a broad view of the distribution of soil salinity in the province based on the areal extent of each class. The extent of saline soils will vary within each soil landscape polygon.

Further Information

Alberta Agriculture and Food (AF) provides information about saline soils.

  • From the AF website, under Quick Links on the right side follow: Publications & More, then Soils and Water Publications to access a number of saline soil publications.
  • From the AF website, use the topic bar on the left and follow: Soil/Water/Air, Soil Fertility and Salinity to find information about municipal salinity mapping projects completed in the province. Or, contact Conservation and Development Branch, AF, for further information. Toll free call 310-0000, then dial (780) 422-4385. www.agric.gov.ab.ca
AGRASID provides extensive soil information and is available to download from the Alberta Soil Information Centre at the AF website. www.agric.gov.ab.ca/asic

Click on map for larger view


Download Spatial Information

Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Saline Soils of the Agricultural Area of Alberta
 
 
 
 

Other Documents in the Series

 
  Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Preface
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Municipal Districts and Counties of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Township Grid System of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Annual Total Precipitation of Alberta, 1971 to 2000
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Frost-free Period of Alberta, 1971 to 2000
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Annual Solar Radiation of Alberta, 1971 to 2000
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Areal Extent of Wetlands in the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Soil Groups of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Soil Texture of the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Saline Soils of the Agricultural Area of Alberta - Current Document
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Solonetzic Soils of the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Organic Matter Content of Cultivated Soils of the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Organic Soils of the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Water Erosion Risk of the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Wind Erosion Risk of the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Aquifer Vulnerability Index for the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Fertilizer Expense Index for the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Chemical Expense Index for the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Manure Production Index for the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Cultivation Intensity Index for the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Number of Species at Risk in Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Surface Water Quality Risk for the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Groundwater Quality Risk for the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Soil Erosion Risk for the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Air Quality Risk for the Agricultural Area of Alberta
Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta - Biodiversity Risk for the Agricultural Area of Alberta
 
 
 
 
Share via AddThis.com
For more information about the content of this document, contact David Spiess.
This document is maintained by Jennifer Rutter.
This information published to the web on September 1, 2005.
Last Reviewed/Revised on January 29, 2018.