This method semi-quantifies the amounts of soluble salts in the liquid phase extracted from the saturated paste of soils and is based on the measurement of the electrical conductivity (ECe) of a saturated paste extract. The higher the concentration of salt in a solution, the higher will be the electrical conductance (the reciprocal of resistance). Electrical conductivity is a function of quantity and specific types of cations and anions in the extract. Plant tolerance can be related to the ECe value of the saturated paste. The method has a detection limit of approximately 0.01 dS m-1.
Rhoades, J. D. 1982. Soluble salts. p. 167-179. In: A. L. Page et al. (ed.) Methods of soil analysis: Part 2: Chemical and microbiological properties. Monograph Number 9 (Second Edition). ASA, Madison, WI.
