Answer to Question #124001 in Chemistry for Veep

Question

How different are saline soils from calcareous soils

Answer 1

Calcareous soils are characterized by high calcium carbonate content. Calcareous soils are produced from limestone, specifically in dry environments with low rainfall. These features prevent the soil from being leached of carbonates. This type of soils causes nutrient deficiencies for various plants.

Saline soils have a high content of soluble salts that reduce the efficiency of water retention by plants. The most typical salts are mixtures of sodium and magnesium with sulfates, chlorides, and bicarbonates. High salinity leads to the rising of water close to the surface of the land causing evaporation of water and precipitation of salts.