On the basis of soil parameters provided by the Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD) seven key soil qualities important for crop production have been derived, namely: nutrient availability, nutrient retention capacity, rooting conditions, oxygen availability to roots, excess salts, toxicities, and workability. Soil qualities are related to the agricultural use of the soil and more specifically to specific crop requirements and tolerances. For the illustration of soil qualities, maize was selected as reference crop because of its global importance and wide geographical distribution.

Excess salts (SQ5)

Accumulation of salts may cause salinity. Excess of free salts referred to as soil salinity is measured as Electric Conductivity (EC in dS/m) or as saturation of the exchange complex with sodium ions, which is referred to as sodicity or sodium alkalinity and is measured as Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP).

Salinity affects crops through inhibiting the uptake of water. Moderate salinity affects growth and reduces yields; high salinity levels may kill the crop. Sodicity causes sodium toxicity and affects soil structure leading to massive or coarse columnar structure with low permeability. Apart from soil salinity and sodicity, conditions indicated by saline (salic) and sodic soil phases may affect crop growth and yields.

In case of simultaneous occurrence of saline (salic) and sodic soils the limitations are combined. The most limiting of the combined soil salinity and/or sodicity conditions and occurrence of saline (salic) and/or sodic soil phase is selected.

Note that the classes used in the Soil Quality evaluation are:

1: No or slight limitations

2: Moderate limitations

3: Sever limitations

4: Very severe limitations

5: Mainly non-soil

6: Permafrost area

7: Water bodies

Remember that classes are qualitative not quantitative. Only classes 1 to 4 are corresponding to an assessment of soil limitations for plant growth. Class 1 is generally rated between 80 and 100% of the growth potential, class 2 between 60 and 80%, class 3 between 40 and 60%, and class 4 less than 40%.