Tables for Reclaiming Saline or Sodic Soils - Almond and Walnut Emphasis

Phoebe Gordon, Ph.D. UCCE Madera and Merced Counties
pegordon@ucanr.edu; 559-675-7879 ext. 7209

The below tables have been adapted from the Almond Production Manual (UCANR publication 3364) and the Pistachio Production Manual (UCANR publication 3545). They, and other UCANR production manuals, are excellent resources. Find more about them at: https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/

  
    ﻿Soil and Water Salinity Guidelines for Almonds and Walnuts
  

    Parameter
    Unit
    None
    Increasing
    Severe
  

    Root Zone ECe
    dS m-1
    < 1.5
    1.5 – 4.8
    > 4.8
  

    Water ECw
    dS m-1
    < 1.1
    1.1 – 3.2
    > 3.2
  

    SAR soil
    
    < 5.0
    5.0 – 15.0
    > 15.0
  

    SAR water
    
    < 3.0
    3.0 – 9.0
    > 9.0
  

    Soil Chloride
    meq L-1
    < 5.0
    5.0 – 15.0
    > 15.0
  

    Water Chloride
    meq L-1
    < 4.0
    4.0 – 10.0
    > 10.0
  

    Soil Boron
    mg L-1
    < 0.5
    0.5 – 3.0
    > 3.0
  

    Water Boron
    ppm or mg L-1
    < 0.5
    0.5 – 3.0
    > 3.0
  

Soil and Water Salinity Guidelines for Almonds and Walnuts
Parameter	Unit	None	Increasing	Severe
Root Zone ECe	dS m-1	< 1.5	1.5 – 4.8	> 4.8
Water ECw	dS m-1	< 1.1	1.1 – 3.2	> 3.2
SAR soil		< 5.0	5.0 – 15.0	> 15.0
SAR water		< 3.0	3.0 – 9.0	> 9.0
Soil Chloride	meq L-1	< 5.0	5.0 – 15.0	> 15.0
Water Chloride	meq L-1	< 4.0	4.0 – 10.0	> 10.0
Soil Boron	mg L-1	< 0.5	0.5 – 3.0	> 3.0
Water Boron	ppm or mg L-1	< 0.5	0.5 – 3.0	> 3.0

  
    ﻿Short List of Amendments for Leaching
  

    Chemical Name
    Trade name: composition
    Lbs/ac-6 in to replace 1 meq/l Na
    Lbs/ac-ft of water to get 1 meq Ca
  

    Sulfur
    Soil sulfur: 100% S
    321
    43.6
  

    Gypsum
    Gypsum: 23.3% Ca
    1720
    234
  

    Potassium thiosulfate
    KTS: 25% K2O, 26% S
    1890 (Assuming K replaces Na in addition to the S)
    256
  

    Sulfuric acid
    100% H2SO4
    981
    133
  

Short List of Amendments for Leaching
Chemical Name	Trade name: composition	Lbs/ac-6 in to replace 1 meq/l Na	Lbs/ac-ft of water to get 1 meq Ca
Sulfur	Soil sulfur: 100% S	321	43.6
Gypsum	Gypsum: 23.3% Ca	1720	234
Potassium thiosulfate	KTS: 25% K2O, 26% S	1890 (Assuming K replaces Na in addition to the S)	256
Sulfuric acid	100% H2SO4	981	133

  
    ﻿Leaching Requirements
  

    Desired root zone salinity (dS/m)
    Water required to leach initial salinity
  

    (inches water required per foot of root zone)
  

    
0
0
0
0
  

0
8
0
2
4
  

5
6
8
0
2
  

    2
    0
6
8
0
  

Leaching Requirements
Desired root zone salinity (dS/m)	Water required to leach initial salinity
(inches water required per foot of root zone)
	2.0	3.0	4.0	5.0
1.0	1.8	3.0	4.2	5.4
1.5	0.6	1.8	3.0	4.2
2	0	0.6	1.8	3.0

References:

Micke, W.C., 1996. Almond production manual (Vol. 3364). UCANR Publications.

Ferguson, L. and Haviland, D., 2016. Pistachio production manual (Vol. 3545). UCANR Publications.

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