The effects of sodium adsorption ratio and electrolyte concentration on water quality: laboratory studies

The dispersion of clay and the release of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus from soils treated with solutions of different ionic compositions and strengths was measured in laboratory studies. The effects of the solution sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and total electrolyte concentration (TEC) on release and clay dispersion were determined in the case of 3 soil types. Solutions with high SAR and low TEC produced the greatest amount of clay dispersion. These highly turbid solutions also had high concentrations of total organic carbon and total phosphorus. Decreasing the SAR or increasing the TEC of a solution in contact with soil would decrease the concentrations of organic carbon and total phosphorus released and decrease clay dispersion.