A salt is a compound of a metal with a nonmetal other than hydrogen or oxygen. NaCl (sodium chloride), or table salt, is the best-known example. The solubility of various salts in water at a standard temperature is highly variable. When salts are dissolved in water, the result is called a saline solution, and the salinity of the solution is measured by its ability to carry an electrical current. Salinity of water is one of the components of water quality. Salinity is also measured in soil. Soil can become salinized from water containing sufficient salts, from the natural degradation of soil minerals, or from materials added to the soil such as fertilizer. Large amounts of water may be required to leach the accumulated salts from the root zone and prevent reduced plant growth or plant desiccation.

See Also

Soil Profile; Water Quality Standards