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Salt and Water Movement in Unsaturated Frozen Soil¹

ABSTRACT

Salt and water movement was measured in unsaturated frozen soil columns incubated under a thermal gradient for 3, 6, or 9 weeks. Both water and salt moved from the warmer to cooler areas in the soil, creating a twofold concentration difference over a 24-cm distance. Movement of CaCl₂, LiI, and K₂SO₄ was studied in detail. Cation exchange reactions and salt solubilities at high concentrations affected the movement. Although the results suggested that mass flow of dissolved salts in a liquid film of water was the principal transfer mechanism, both vapor and salt diffusion were sometimes significant. Thermal diffusion and salt sieving did not appear to be important.

Since the vapor pressure of ice controls the water potential in frozen soil, the amount of unfrozen water and matric suction could be calculated from a water release curve and data from ice suspensions in salt solutions. These results led to the conclusion that mass flow in the liquid phase is described by Darcy's law. Thus, salt flow as well as net water transfer can probably be predicted in unsaturated frozen soil using information available from unfrozen systems.

¹ Contribution from the Northwest Branch, Soil & Water Conservation Research Division, ARS, USDA; Idaho Agr. Exp. Sta. cooperating.

² Soil Scientists, Snake River Conservation Research Center, Kimberly, Idaho 83341.

Received for publication December 27, 1971. Accepted for publication March 13, 1972.