HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Maianu, A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Maianu, A. Agricola Articles by Maianu, A.

Salt Accumulation in the Rivers of North Dakota¹

ABSTRACT

Chemical determinations on over 9000 water samples collected from 83 rivers and analyzed by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1949 and 1982 were used to establish the patterns of salt accumulation in North Dakota rivers. The concentrations of the principal anions, cations, and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) were related with the total salinity (electrical conductivity, EC) of each water sample. Some patterns of salt accumulation were observed: first, according to the anions that accumulate as a continuum with increases in total salinity; and secondly, by the rate of anion accumulation. Taking into consideration these two factors, eight groups of river waters were established. Thirdly, the change of the ratios between the anions with increases in total salinity creates a succession of stages of salt accumulation. Each stage corresponds to the change of the river water chemical composition between particular total salinity limits. These changes are specific for each group of rivers depending on the topographic and geologic conditions that prevail in the drainage basin of the rivers. Based on these three factors, a genetic classification of river waters was derived, which consists in ranking the waters in three categories: classes, groups, and stages of salt accumulation.

Key Words: electrical conductivity • sodium adsorption ratio • classes, groups, and stages of salt accumulation • genetic classification of river water

¹ Contribution from the Dep. of Soil Sci., North Dakota State Univ., Fargo, ND 58105. Published with the approval of the director of the North Dakota Agric. Exp. Stn. as Journal Paper no. 1321.

² Associate professor, Soil Sci. Dep., North Dakota State Univ.

Received for publication April 19, 1984.