The main objective of this study was to develop and to evaluate models in order to identify the influence of ions on the values of electrical conductivity of saturation extracts (CEes). The samples were colleted in areas under irrigated banana trees (with subsurface and surface water) and native forest areas. Samples were taken in two areas in the Apodi Plateau, State of Ceara. One area was in Quixeré County and the other was at the Jaguaribe Apodi Irrigation District - DIJA, in Limoeiro do Norte County. Research was done during two periods, one from December 1999 to December 2000 and the other from September to December 2001. The 312 soil samples were taken to the laboratory for analyses of extract saturation for determination of CE and the ions Na+, Cl-, Ca2++Mg2+ and K+. A stepwise regression analysis model was tested, using CEes as the dependent variable and analyzed ions as the independent variables in all tested models. Results obtained through statistical models showed that the ion Cl- had greater influence in the elevation of the CEs values followed by the ions Ca2++Mg2+ in Quixeré. In the soil of the DIJA area, for layers of 30-60 cm, the most important ion was Na+ followed by Cl-.The linear models for the several layers, for both areas, presented a good accuracy, as the simulated values were very close to those observed.
soil salinity; statistical models
