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Campbell Scientific Sentek TriSCAN® Manual v 1.2a User Manual

Page 49

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TriSCAN Manual Version 1.2a

Copyright © 1991 – 2004 Sentek Pty Ltd All rights reserved

Page 42

Appendix 2: Guidelines for Interpretation of Water

Salinity for Irrigation

Table 7. Gui delines for Interpretations of Water Salinity for Irrigation (from Ayars & Westcott)

1

Salinity measure

Units

Degree of Restriction on Use

None

Slight to

Moderate

Severe

EC

w

dSm

-1

< 0.7

0.7 – 3.0

> 3.0

TDS

mg L

-1

< 450

450 -2000

> 2000

1

EC

w

means electrical conductivity of the water salinity, reported in deciSiemens per meter at 25°C (dSm

-1

)

or in units millimhos per centimetre (mmho/cm). Both are equivalent. TDS means total dissolved solids,
reported in milligrams per litre (mgL

-1

).

All plants do not respond to salinity in a similar manner; some crops can produce acceptable yields at much
greater soil salinity than others. This is because some are better able to make the needed osmotic
adjustments enabling them to extract more water from a saline soil.