Accumulation of salt in irrigated North Queensland tobacco soils

Abstract

High chloride content of leaf is common in furrow irrigated flue-cured tobacco leaf from the Burde kin Irrigation Area of North Queensland.
Soil chloride content to 30 in. is low at the beginning of the season but a build-up occurs during the season. This accumulation is greatest in the top 6 in. of the row or "hill" position, which is also a zone of extensive root development. The furrow shows little build-up in surface horizons.
Below 12 in. little variation occurs under either row or furrow.
It is considered that plant uptake results from soil chloride which is concentrated in the rows by lateral and upward movement of irrigation water containing moderate amounts of chloride, usually between 30 and 40 p.p.m. Cl.