saltClass {soilassessment}

A function to classify types of salt-affected soils using EC, PH, and ESP

Description

This function determines the major classes of salt-affected soils using Electrical Conductivity (EC), soil reaction (pH), and Exchangeable Sodium Percent (ESP) according to FAO or USDA classification schemes

Usage

saltClass(ec,ph,esp)

Arguments

ec

Electrical Conductivity in dS/m of saturated soil paste extract or its equivalent

ph

soil reaction (pH)

esp

Exchangeable Sodium Percent

Value

saltClass returns integer classes of salt problems in the soil. The classes are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 corresponding to None, Saline, Saline-sodic, Sodic, and Alkaline categories.

Note

ESP is mandatory when using this function. The "error: 1 * ESP : non-numeric argument to binary operator" is flagged when ESP entry is missing. In case ESP is missing, saltRating is suggested.

Author(s)

Christian Thine Omuto

References

FAO.2006. Guidelines for soil description. FAO. Rome

Richards, L. A. (ed.) 1954. Diagnosis and Improvement of Saline and Alkali Soils. U.S. Department Agriculture Handbook 60. U.S. Gov. Printing Office, Washington, DC.

See Also

saltRating, saltSeverity, classCode

Examples

saltClass(6.12,7.84,1)