Correlation between geochemical, mineralogical and physical characters of sediments and salinization phenomena in a pilot area in the ionian plain (Southern Italy)

Superficial and sub-superficial soils affected by salinization were studied on a pilot site on an Ionian coastal plain in Basilicata, Southern Italy. Grain-size, mineralogical, and geochemical features favouring soil degradation were analyzed. This study identifies the main mechanisms for triggering soil salinization, including electrical conductivity which provide a physical marker by measuring the level of salinization and silty grain component size and halite and/or chlorite percentages provided compositional markers. A critical depth of about 20 cm was identified, impacting the downward diffusion mechanism of the superficial salt and a possible chloritization of smectite from/by soluble magnesium relating to saline water-soil interaction from weathering processes.