The Secondary Salinization Process Salinization has a direct effect on both plant growth and the structure of the soil. If the soil is saline a plant will have to expend energy bringing water into it's cells because it is forced to work against osmotic potential. The cation's positive charge will be attracted to the negative charge found on clay particles which make up most of the colloid fraction. Sodic soils, whose CEC is dominated by mono-valiant sodium cations, will tend to be dispersed and not form stable aggregates. The quality of the water used for irrigation has an effect on soil salinization.
Surface water can vary greatly in the amount of salts that it carries in solution.
Most large rivers in the world carry about .11 to .18 g of dissolved material per liter of water. In some regions of the world irrigation water is predominantly pumped from aquifers and the dissolved load of ground water will vary greatly due to local lithology. In many areas of the world brackish water is used for irrigation. Proper irrigation management can slow down or stop salinization. In arid areas irrigation can cause the aquifer recharge rate to experience a forty fold increase even with wise water conservation.