The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of exchangeable sodium percentage and electrolite concentration of percolating water, on the hydraulic conductivity of a Noncalcic Brown Soil of the region of the River Salitre-Ba, Brazil. The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions and consisted of the determination of the saturated hydraulic conductivity using leaching solutions with different electrolite concentrations. In addition, the eletrical conductivity of the percolate and sodium exchangeable concentration, were measured before and after percolation of the solution. Using Richards pressure-membrane apparatus, contents of sodium dislocated were measured at different tensions. A low correlation between the hydraulic conductivity and the exchangeable sodium percentage levels was found. Application of calcium sulfate solution presented a beneficial effect on the saturated hydraulic conductivity, except when irreversible processes of mineral dissolution occurred. This effect has been associated to pH or carbonate content in the percolating solution.
hydraulic conductivity; elution; exchangeable sodium
