Predicting Soil Electrical Conductivity of the Saturation Extract from a 1:1 Soil to Water Ratio

Since 1954, the electrical conductivity of the saturated paste extract (ECe) has been the preferred index for soil salinity. Based on this value, remediation strategies were developed and widely used but this approach is time consuming and not routinely offered by many soil testing facilities. However, many laboratories determine the EC1:1 value of a 1:1 soil to solution ratio extract. The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between ECe and EC1:1 and determine if EC1:1 can be used as a proxy in the northern Great Plains for ECe. Samples were collected across five studies and from AGVISE Laboratory. The samples were analyzed for EC1:1 and ECe. The relationship between the ECe and EC1:1 showed that soil parent materials need to be considered in the conversion of EC1:1 values to ECe values. A failure to consider parent materials in this conversion may have short and long-term sustainability ramifications.