Origins, extent and reclamation of saline soils in Alberta are described. Natural and man-induced salinity are addressed but the latter is emphasized. Major activities/structures responsible for causing man-induced salinization, roughly in order of decreasing extent, include dryland agriculture, irrigated agriculture, oil and gas development , lagoons/ reservoirs , ditches, and coal mining.
Salinity management and prevention practices that are required to control salinization are explained. Joint efforts among industry, government, universities, and consultants have led to success in the non-renewable resource areas - the challenge for the 1990s is to bring about similar success in the renewable resource areas. Integrated, multidisciplinary, systems approaches at the watershed level involving farmers, researchers, policy makers and other key players are a must. Solutions to salinity problems will also ameliorate other important types of soil degradation.
Soil Salinity in Alberta
Resource Type