WATER SALINITY

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 Salinity is the measure of the amount of dissolved
salts in water. It is usually expressed in parts per
thousand (ppt) or percentage (%). Freshwater
from rivers has a salinity value of 0.5ppt or less .
What does salinity of water mean?

 Salinity is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of

a body of water. Generally, it is the concentration
of mineral salts dissolved in water. Salinity may
be expressed in terms of a concentration or as
electrical conductivity
Why is the salinity important?

 Itis a strong contributor to conductivity and helps

determine many aspects of the chemistry of
natural waters and the biological processes within
them. Salinity, along with temperature and
pressure, helps govern physical characteristics of
water such as density and heat capacity .
What are the causes and effects of salinity?

Salinity can decrease plant growth and water quality

resulting in lower crop yeilds and degraded stock
water supplies . Excess salt effects overall soil
health , reducing productivity . It kills plants,
leaving bare soil that is prone to erosion .
How can we prevent salinity?

 avoiding over-irrigation by monitoring soil moisture to work

out water requirements.
 good crop selection such as using deep-rooted plants to
maximise water extraction.
 minimising fallow periods using crop rotations and break
crops.
 avoiding deep ripping and overtillage to minimise infiltration
of water