Saltbox house colors


Saltbox house style – the ultimate guide |

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Whether you’re looking for a new home or trying to find a chic Airbnb for a summer getaway, drive a few hours north up the Atlantic coast and by the time you’ve reached New England a familiar shape of home will start to line the streets of suburbia. 

Saltbox homes date back to the earliest days of America, as colonial settlers began constructing these two-level homes to support their growing families and create a distinctive style for their way of living. Here, we take a closer look at this distinctive house style.

See: House styles – your complete guide to architectural styles and eras

What is a saltbox house?

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Known for their flat front and symmetrical facade, saltbox homes go way back to the 1600s. A single chimney traditionally rises from the center of the home, which in the earlier days provided heat evenly throughout the whole home.  

Today, the homes are considered more traditional than their modern counterparts, and commonly feature wood shingles on the exterior and painted shutters. On the interior, many saltbox homes have a more antique-forward design, with patterned wallpaper and exposed beams being common to show off the older models’ history. 

What does a saltbox style house look like?

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Saltbox houses are typically two stories at the front, and one at the back, with a pitched roof with unequal sides. A saltbox house is flat at the front, with a central chimney.

The key feature in identifying a saltbox house is the sloped roof that slants down in the back to be just one story. These homes were originally designed this way both to increase the volume of the space as well as to meet a taxation loophole from the colonial restrictions of the 1600s that specified two-story homes would be taxed more than ranch style houses

Saltbox-style homes were technically considered only one-story given the shape of the roof. The sloped roof is also said to have been developed so that the heavier snowfall in the northern states would slide off easier as it melted and create less of a weight burden for the rooftop. 

Where are saltbox houses popular?

Saltbox houses are popular in New England today, but have always been well-regarded – in fact President John Adams was born in a saltbox house in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1735.

The style has remained popular for the centuries since inception because of the history and detail in every preserved home. There are several examples of meticulously cared for saltbox houses on the National Register of Historic Places . 

The style has become so tied to New England culture that saltbox homes have also been created elsewhere to remind people of their northern vacation homes. 

Where can saltbox houses be found?

Saltbox houses are most commonly found throughout New England, with the highest density being in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Additional examples can be found as far north as Labrador and Newfoundland in Canada. 

Why is a saltbox house called a saltbox?

A saltbox house is so-called because it is named after the wooden salt containers from the colonial period. 

How to decorate a saltbox house

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The truth is, you can decorate a saltbox house the same way you would any reasonable home. There are ways to make it modern, and (more obvious) opportunities to go for a more traditional look. The important thing is to know what to look for when matching elements together. 

1. Make the most of historical parts

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Saltbox houses, especially the older ones, will have plenty of charming antiquities to highlight in any interior design. Older windows can be repainted and brought to life with a new shine and some upholstered pieces throughout the living room and dining room to let the history show.  

Exposed ceiling beams can also create a more historic look, and rounded, weathered-looking beams won’t have the same quality if you’re pairing them with stainless steel appliances. 

(Image credit: Douglas Gibb)

Because of the angular exterior, and therefore interior ceilings, of saltbox homes, building off these clean lines can leave room for juxtaposed modern furniture in the interior. Sure, the wooden shingles might need to be replaced with something more contemporary, or the exposed ceiling beams worn down to a straighter edge, but being bold with your interior design can pay dividends. Layer in bright colors with sharper edges for a modern look.

3. Match colors appropriately

(Image credit: Havenly)

With natural elements poking through the walls in most saltbox houses like wood paneling, wood-slat roofs, and central chimneys, be sure to pair the structural elements of the home with more natural, organic colors like earth tones and textures.  

Timothy Latterner is a writer and editor living in New York City. His work has appeared in GQ, Conde Nast Traveler, Playboy, Vice, and Architectural Digest, where he also worked as the local news editor. He typically covers all things design, travel, and pop culture. 

Great Exterior Color Combinations – Forbes Home

Picking a paint color combination for your home can be a daunting task. It’s the first thing that people will see, setting the tone for the rest of your home, so it’s important that you make a considered choice. Paying attention to the architectural style of your home and the common combinations you see in your neighborhood is a great place to start.

If you need a little boost we’ve pulled together a few inspired choices to help you think outside the box.

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White, Black and Red

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There’s nothing quite as classic as a white house with black trim and a bright red door. This combination will look great with almost any style, from a traditional Georgian style to a more modern silhouette. In this take, the black roofing and garage door helps to tie it together while the lighter gray trim and downpipes add a little more dimension.

Light Gray, White and Lemon

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Gray is an excellent neutral for a home exterior. This delicate gray, in particular, has the brightening effect of a classic white without the blinding starkness that an all-white facade can sometimes bring. Adding a bright white trim helps the gray tone stand out as well. To really have some fun with this neutral palette, go for a bold door like this lemon yellow.

Pale Sage and Copper

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Sage is an excellent choice for exteriors as green plays nicely with surrounding landscaping and is a perfect foil for the coppery undertones of stained wood. This little bungalow, the sage color feels cheerful and bright while the wood porch ceiling and front door accentuate the craftsman-style architecture. Take it a step further with copper gutters and downpipes that will patina to a lovely verdigris over time.

All Black and White Trim

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Nothing compliments a classic saltbox house like an all black exterior. Opting for white trim helps to accentuate the doors and windows for a high-contrast graphic look. Going for a black and white scheme is a great way to modernize a more traditional style, but be mindful of your climate.

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Butter Yellow, Avocado Green and Russet

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This buttery yellow bungalow pulls from the 70’s greatest hits playbook with its color palette. The light yellow is a perfect backdrop for the bold russet red accents, which plays well with the existing brick. Bring in the punch of avocado green for the trim and you have a funky facade with lots of character. Peak the light blue porch ceiling as well, a tried and true trick to discourage pests from building nests on your patio.

Greige, Red and Cream

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Greige is a very popular color for its versatility with the warmth of beige countered by the cooler undertones of a traditional gray. It’s the best of both worlds for those looking for a nice neutral. Pairing it with a creamy trim brings out the warm undertones while the red door and windows add in some character.

Pebble Gray and Cream

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Pebble gray is a deeper take on the classic greige neutral tone, making it a great pairing with a lush landscape. Don’t be afraid to go a bit darker with your exterior colors as richer neutrals also don’t show wear and tear as readily as their fairer cousins. Warmer grays also work well with natural stone elements as is the case in this home. Go for a warmer cream color for the trim rather than a stark white to keep things cohesive.

Lilac and Cedar

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While purple may not seem a likely candidate, this cool tone can be a great choice when used properly. In this case, the playful lilac siding is set off by the cedar shingles and wood door, which add a warm contrast. The cooler gray roofing and purple tones in the landscaping also helps keep things cohesive and mature while still having a fun edge.

White, Slate Gray and Light Blue

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If you prefer a classic white for your exterior, adding contrast with your trim is a great way to set your house apart. Here, the purple undertones of the slate gray accentuate the home’s architectural features and bring in a modern contrast. The light blue window frames also add a subtle two-tone touch that gives the house character.

Terracotta Red, Gingerbread and Sienna

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For a bold, warm exterior, look no further than this deep terracotta tone. In this example, the addition of the bright gingerbread adds a traditional warmth that also accents the Victorian detailing. Rather than using a white or black window, which would clash with the warmer tones, the deep brown sienna window frames add a crisp finish that contrasts well with the surroundings.

Mustard, Lavender and Brick Red

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Mustard is a wonderfully cheerful color that, as its name suggests, still has a bit of a bite. Pair it with brick red accents, or in this case actual red brick, and it is a classic combination. The creamier trim works well, complimenting the warmth of the other colors, while the lavender colored porch is a whimsical cool touch to add character.

Chocolate, White and Olive

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Modern homes provide a great opportunity to go for a bold color scheme. Accentuate one of the volumes with a deep hue like this olive extrusion. Keeping the dark chocolate tones consistent for the garage door, entry alcove and retaining wall helps tie the home to the landscaping while also contrasting the natural greens. For an extra fun pop, go for a bright colored door, in this case orange.

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Sand, Rust and White

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Sandy stucco is a tried and true combination. In this case, the bright white trim helps keep the exterior bright and crisp without feeling too yellow. The addition of a rust-colored accent along the roofline and windows is a great way to accentuate the fun architectural details. For an added touch, coordinate the colors in your landscaping to tie it all together.

Sky Blue and White

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A bold sky blue is a classic look for farmhouses, beach houses and cottages alike. A classic white trim will add a traditional bent and is a great way to accent the architectural detailing of your home. In this case, the bold red flowers incorporated in flower boxes also adds a certain visual delight, which you could also bring in with other bright tones or a similarly bright door.

White and Teal Accents

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Teal may seem like a bold choice, but sometimes that’s what a house requires. Take your inspiration from the watercolor beach houses of the Gulf Coast and go for a playful pastel or bright tone with a classic white trim. If you prefer a subtler approach, invert your color and use it as an accent like this Key West cottage.

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Pastel Pink and White

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If you happen to have a home that looks a bit like a beautiful old wedding cake, then you might as well make the most of it. Pastel pink is an excellent choice for a playful exterior, especially on this Victorian beauty. Even if your home doesn’t have the same antiquated flair, don’t be afraid to go for a color with a little extra personality. When in doubt, going with a white trim will also keep things feeling buttoned up.

Whether you prefer the multicolored masterpieces of Victorian mansions or the soft neutrals of contemporary homes there is bound to be a color combination that will give your home the facade it deserves.

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The best ornamental plants for salt marshes. Names, descriptions, photos — Botanichka

Solonchak is a type of soil, which is characterized by the presence of easily soluble salts in their upper horizons, which prevent the development of many plants. Nevertheless, even for such difficult areas, suitable ornamental crops can be selected. What plants will not mind growing on salt marshes, I will tell in my article.

Best ornamental plants for salt marshes

Causes of soil salinization

The soil may be rich in salts due to the fact that the parent rock from which it was formed contains salts. Sea water is another source of salts in regions along the coast. Irrigation water itself is a very common source of salts in irrigated soils. The close standing of groundwater with a high salt content can also contribute to soil salinization.

The terms "salt" and "salinity" are often used interchangeably, but sometimes incorrectly. Salt is simply an inorganic mineral that can dissolve in water. Many people associate salt with sodium chloride (table salt). In reality, the salts that are concentrated in the soil are often a combination of sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, chlorides, nitrates, sulfates, bicarbonates, and carbonates.

Most crops grow poorly on soils containing salts. If your soil has a high salt content, the plants growing in it will not be as strong as in normal soils. Seeds will germinate poorly and plants will grow slowly and become stunted. If the salt concentration is too high, the plants will wilt and die no matter how much they are watered.

One of the reasons that salt marshes have such an effect on plants is that salt reduces the absorption rate and the amount of water that plant roots can take from the soil. In addition, some salts are toxic to plants at high concentrations.

With any luck, salt damage may only show up as leaf scorch, but in the worst cases, this leads to leaf death. The solution to this problem is the selection of salt-tolerant plants. Fortunately, there are many such crops, from annual flowers to shrubs and trees.

Salt-tolerant flowers

Salt-tolerant plants can be found among flowering and ornamental foliage plants that can be used to create flower gardens and flower beds. It can be both perennial and annual plants.

Monarda

Monarda ( Monarda ) - perennial with inflorescences of red, purple, pink or white, consisting of two-lipped flowers. Monarda is also used to make tea and treat bee stings. The height of upright bushes is from 40 to 90 cm. It grows in direct sun or in light partial shade. One of their main advantages is the ability of the plant to attract a variety of insects (including bees and butterflies) to the garden, as well as birds in the winter. Hardiness zones - 4 to 9.

Daylily

Daylily ( Hemerocallis ) is a reliable perennial for zones 3 to 9. Plant in full sun for best results. It has colorful tubular flowers that look like a lily (there are also double and "arachnid"). Each flower blooms for only one day, but the overall flowering period of the bush is long. Removing the flower stalks as all the flowers on them have withered will encourage waves of flowering until the fall. The leaves are narrow linear, also decorative.

Opuntia

Opuntia ( Opuntia compressa ) is a surprisingly easy cactus to grow in the garden. It is hardy enough to survive in cool climates down to at least USDA zone 4 (down to -30 degrees). This cactus can be grown from cuttings in early summer or from seeds sown in late spring.

Prickly pear is a great choice for adding an element of surprise to your landscape. Its stems are divided into flat, spatulate segments, and it also boasts cheerful, brightly colored flowers. Do not be alarmed if in winter it seems that these cacti dry out, as if blown away - this is their normal reaction to a state of rest, and in the spring they will pour again and restore their normal appearance. The plant is edible.

Monarda (Monarda) Daylily (Hemerocallis) Opuntia (Opuntia compressa). © orchidgalore

Grandiflora purslane

Grandiflora purslane ( Portulaca grandiflora ) is a very pretty low growing ground cover plant sometimes referred to as "sun rose". It is a very valuable plant due to its high resistance to heat and drought, it also spreads and spreads well. For proper care of purslane, you need to limit its watering.

Purslane looks very beautiful around rocks, at the garden path and in the foreground of the flower garden. Most often it is a mixture of colors of pink, red, yellow, orange, dark lavender, cream and white. Flowers are simple and double. This adorable annual will help attract butterflies to your garden and will always draw admiring glances.

Coleus

Coleus ( Coleus ) is used as an ornamental leaf crop for carpet plantings, flowerbeds in the sun and in partial shade, for flowerpots, balcony boxes and pots. It is an evergreen perennial grown as an annual, mother liquors can be easily kept in the winter on a windowsill. To do this, the plants are transplanted into pots, cut by a third and kept on the windowsill. There are usually no serious problems with insects or diseases when growing coleus.

Spectacular multicolored leaves ovate to oblong and serrated in shape, often with an uneven pattern of mixed colors. The flowers are small in spike-shaped inflorescences from blue to white.

Lantana camara

Lantana camara ( Lantana camara ) is known for its round clusters of small bright flowers reminiscent of verbena. The flowers can be yellow, orange, white, red or purple, and often the color of the flower can change as it blooms, creating a two-tone effect. Lanthanum leaves have a citrus scent. It is used as a container, border and ground cover plant.

In the middle lane, perennial lanthanums are grown only in the summer months - as an annual. It is better to place mother liquors for the winter in an unheated room and keep them at rest. In the garden, lanthanas love full or partial sun.

Large-flowered purslane (Portulaca grandiflora). © SylviColeus. © Seiji EnokidoLantana camara. © Enciclopedia Bonàs

Salt tolerant vines

For vertical gardening to decorate buildings, pavilions and terraces, several salt tolerant vines can also be selected.

English ivy ( Hedera helix ) is an evergreen perennial that can be grown in the middle lane with light cover, or in places protected from the wind. English ivy can act as a groundcover, growing horizontally, but is primarily a vine. Thanks to the air roots, it can rise to a height.

Ivy needs protection from winter winds as well as from the hot summer sun. English ivy grows well from partial shade to full shade. Ivy should not be harvested in standing water or too wet soil.

Read more about ivy in the garden in the article The best plants for vertical gardening.

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Parthenocissus quinquefolia ( Parthenocissus quinquefolia ) is one of the most common vines in landscaping. Its leaves are divided into five distinct segments and turn from dark green to reddish-orange, burgundy and bright yellow in autumn. The berries of the liana are also decorative, they are of a rich dark blue color and are actively eaten by birds.

Unfortunately, the plant spreads uncontrollably and is not the best choice when a low-maintenance vine is needed. Although it is one of the shade-tolerant vines, it achieves its best fall color when grown in full sun.

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). © Chironius

Salt tolerant shrubs and subshrubs

Shrubs help give structure to any landscape. Properly selected, they bring effect to the garden for a longer time than flowers. It is important to choose shrubs that retain their decorative effect in autumn and winter.

Rosa Rugosa

Rosa Rugosa ( Rosa Rugosa ) is one of the easiest rose varieties to grow. Rugoza does not require special care, it is highly frost-resistant and resistant to pests and diseases. Most Rugosa roses are tall, spreading shrubs that need a lot of room to grow. Many of them are fragrant and, after flowering, set fruits, like those of a wild rose. They can adapt to challenging growing conditions including light shade, salinity, low temperatures, drought and high humidity.

It is best to plant this rose where it can lean against a structure such as a fence. Rugosa roses bloom in late spring and early summer. Many varieties repeat flowering, but the first will be the strongest. Coloring is very different: cranberry red, lavender pink, orange and white.

Whorled Holly

Whorled Holly ( Ilex verticillata ) is a deciduous shrub native to the United States that can be a great addition to the landscape as it produces bright red berries that persist throughout winter and spring. Bright berries not only add bright color to winter landscapes, but also attract birds to the garden. Holly is a slow growing shrub with a rounded upright habit. The leaves are dark green and elliptical. Hardy in zones 3 to 9(USDA).

Pennsylvania waxwort

Pennsylvania waxwort ( Myrica pensylvanica ) is a dioecious deciduous shrub, densely branching, rounded, usually grows up to 3 meters in height. The flowers appear in individual catkins, with only the male flowers being colored (dull yellowish green). The flowers of the female plants, when pollinated, are followed by attractive clusters of tiny greyish-white fruits in late summer, which usually persist through the winter. The fruits are covered with a fragrant waxy substance.

Yucca filamentosa

Yucca filamentosa ( Yucca filamentosa ) is one of the easiest succulents to grow outdoors. Lamellar leaves form a basal rosette ending in thorns. A cluster of flowers usually appears in early summer - individual inflorescences in the form of white drooping bells.

This is a slow growing plant that may not produce flower spikes until it is four or five years old. Yucca grows best in full sun and does not require shelter.

Rosa Rugosa. © ericy202 Filamentous Yucca (Yucca filamentosa). © songbirdPA Whorled holly (Ilex verticillata). © BlueRidgeKitties

Salt Tolerant Trees

With sufficient height, trees perform certain functions in the landscape that other plants cannot, such as providing shade, forming vertical dominants, zoning a site, and so on.

Red Oak

Red Oak ( Quercus rubra ) lives up to its name because of its dark red fall foliage. In summer, it is green, up to 20 cm long, with 7-11 pointed lobes of the leaf blade. The trees are usually hardy and live for several decades, preferring sunny locations. The height of an adult tree is 20-25 m.

Staghorn or sumac

Staghorn or sumac staghorn ( Rhus typhina ) is a small tree or tall shrub with complex pinnate leaves resembling a fern. Sumac is often cultivated for its colorful fruits (drupes), which are a favorite food for birds, and for the fall color of the foliage, which is usually bright yellow, orange, or red.

Staghorn sumac is called this type of sumac because of the reddish-brown hairs that cover the branches like velvet, which makes them resemble deer antlers. The plant quickly forms small thickets.

Deer horn, or staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina). © cheung2408

See also our article Sumac - friend or foe?

Virginian juniper

Virginian juniper ( Juniperus virginiana ) is an evergreen tree with a pyramidal crown. Usually grows up to 8 m in height and 1 m in diameter. The bark is reddish-brown, the needles are greenish-blue, and the attractive purple cones are readily eaten by wild birds. Hardiness zones 2–9 (USDA). Prefers full sun. The needles are fragrant and release phytoncides.

Sulfide solonchak • Ivan Semenkov • Science Picture of the Day at Elements • Soil science

The photo shows a sulfide solonchak excavated on the coast of Lake Tarmakul in the Novosibirsk Region. The name of the soil speaks for itself: all salt marshes contain a very large amount of soluble salts - sodium chloride (ordinary table salt), magnesium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate (soda) and others (in soil science, salts are considered soluble, the solubility of which in water is higher than that of gypsum , that is, more than two grams per liter). These salts are toxic to plants, therefore only salt-tolerant plants, halophytes (from the Greek words ἅλς "salt" and φυτόν "plant"). On the salt marsh in the photo, only the stalks of saltwort ( Salicornia ) are visible, which forms a continuous red belt of vegetation between the azure smooth surface of the salt lake Tarmakul and the dried yellowish meadow on the black soil. On the surface of this solonchak, a thin humus crust is noticeable. Its gray color is associated with humus that arose during the decomposition of saltwort residues. The crust is thin, because due to the high content of toxic soluble salts (salinization), few plants grow on this soil.

The gley horizon, heterogeneous in color, extends to the very bottom of the soil section (see the picture of the day Gleezem: when it is constantly damp), in which rusty-ocher ferruginous stripes no more than 5 mm thick are visible here and there. It can be divided into two subhorizons: a lighter one up to 12–15 cm and a darker underlying one. There are more stripes in the upper gley subhorizon, since they are formed as a result of the oxidation of iron by oxygen penetrating through the cavities formed after the death of saltwort roots. The dark color of the lower gley subhorizon is determined by the content of hydrotroilite, an aqueous hydrosulfide of iron, named after the 18th century Italian scientist Domenico Troili. Atmospheric oxygen practically does not penetrate into this part of the soil, which confirms the presence of only single ocher layers of oxidized iron and infiltration of groundwater from a depth of 33 cm. On the other hand, favorable conditions are created for the life of sulfate-reducing bacteria; they extract energy by converting sulfates, which are abundant in groundwater, into sulfides. Sulfides interact with iron in solution and precipitate as a dark substance.

In the field, the soil scientist very easily identifies hydrotroilite, since in addition to a shovel, a knife and a centimeter tape, he always has a solution of 10% hydrochloric acid in his kit. Basically, it is needed to detect calcium, magnesium or sodium carbonates, which react violently with it to form carbon dioxide. If you drop it on a gley horizon containing hydrotroilite, then hydrogen sulfide gas will fly into the researcher's nose, the smell of which cannot be confused with anything. However, some sulfide salt marshes already emit hydrogen sulfide when digging, so you don’t even have to spend hydrochloric acid on them.

Hydrotroilite is not an obligatory feature of a solonchak, since sulfate-reducing bacteria do not always live in solonchaks. The external appearance of solonchaks varies greatly - unlike, for example, podzols, which necessarily have a sandy, lightened leaching horizon and a darker leaching horizon (see pictures of the day Taiga Podzols - "salt on pepper" and Many-faced podzols). Solonchaks are diagnosed by the high content of soluble salts. That is, the researcher cannot always say unambiguously during field work whether there is a solonchak in front of him or not. You can, of course, taste the soil: in the case of sulfate salinity, bitterness will be felt, and in chloride salinity (especially if it is pure sodium chloride salinity), sweetness will be felt. But you don’t always want to do this, especially if you work by the road, in a city or in a pasture. Halophytes (they grow only on saline soils) and white salt efflorescences help the soil scientist in field diagnostics of solonchaks.

The “classic” salt marsh, which cannot be confused with any other soil, has a salt crust on the surface that can form a solid white carpet or a light whitish coating of crystals of various shapes. In the modern classification and diagnostics of Russian soils, two indicators are used, according to the high values ​​of which the soil can be called a solonchak: specific electrical conductivity and sodium ion activity.

If there are not very many toxic salts, and groundwater with an abundance of sulfates does not come close to the soil, then less picturesque salt marshes are formed. More diverse vegetation is found on this solonchak, and since its phytomass is greater, a more powerful humus horizon is also formed:

Solonchaks were first described in detail in Russia, so this word entered the international soil lexicon as Solonchaks. In the modern Russian classification of soils, solonchaks are distinguished if the content of easily soluble salts in the upper ten-centimeter soil layer is not less than 1%, which excludes the development of most plants, except for halophytes. In order to avoid physiological dryness (a phenomenon when there is a lot of water, but the plant cannot absorb it with its roots), halophytes accumulate easily soluble salts in their tissues and cells in concentrations that exceed the concentration of salts in the soil solution. Easily soluble salts in the soil solution can disturb the ionic balance, reducing the availability of such important elements as potassium and calcium for plants. But halophytes have adapted to this too! Unlike most other plants, in which calcium predominates among metals in the ashes, halophytes contain more sodium and magnesium and less calcium.

Salt marshes are most often found in steppes, semi-deserts and deserts, where the amount of precipitation is much less than the amount of water that could evaporate. In the world, Solonchaks cover about 260 million hectares and are most common in the Northern Hemisphere, since it is there that the area of ​​regions with arid climate is larger. The main arrays of solonchaks are confined to the bottom of the dried-up Tethys ocean (see the article We live at the bottom), whose waters once splashed on the site of the modern Caucasus, Iran, Central Asia, Europe, Mongolia, northwestern China. Salt marshes are not very suitable for agriculture, they are used only as low-productive pastures.

Soil salinization is an extremely negative phenomenon. In the absence of good drainage in irrigated soils, the water table can rise, causing secondary salinization.


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