Salinization dynamics in irrigated soils of the Svetloyarsk irrigation system, Volgograd oblast

On the basis of soil surveys performed by the Volgograd hydrogeological reclamation expedition in 1998 and 2006, published data, and original materials obtained by the authors, the dynamics of soil salinization within the Svetloyarsk irrigation system in Volgograd oblast during the irrigation and post-irrigation periods have been traced. It is found that high irrigation rates under conditions of poor drainage and closed drainage basins upon both shallow (within the Caspian Lowland) and relatively deep (on the Ergeni Upland) occurrence of saline groundwater and the presence of natural salts in the soils and subsoils lead to the rise in the groundwater level above the critical level and the development of secondary salinization in the previously surfacesaline, deeply saline, and even nonsaline soils. During the post-irrigation period (15–18 years) under modern climatic conditions, the groundwater level has been descending to a depth of more than 3 m, and the degree of salinity in the upper meter of light chestnut and meadow-chestnut soils has decreased owing to the leaching of salts with atmospheric precipitation.