Salinity/ Selenium Managment Home

Salinity/selenium is an important water resource issue in North Dakota due to its impact on drinking water and crop production. Approximately 4 million acres of land in North Dakota are affected by salinity or sodicity. These areas are generally unproductive and in some cases are actively expanding into productive cropland. Plans for irrigation development in North Dakota must be tempered with the realities of salinization and sodification of land if soils and water quality are not compatible. Extensive bedrock aquifers formed from shallow inland seas that lie beneath most of North Dakota. Unfortunately, the groundwater in these aquifers often such high concentrations of salt and sodium that it is useless for most domestic and industrial purposes. In many parts of North Dakota the water quality standards cannot be met due to high concentrations of sulfate inherited from local geological materials. High levels of selenium, arsenic, and certain heavy metals are also associated with some sedimentary formations that affect groundwater quality. These types of natural water quality problems have led to the need for private and municipal water treatment systems. They have also led to the development of an extensive network of rural water systems.

Salinity control for productive corn management in the Red River Valley 

Dr. David Hopkins Soil Science and Dr. Marcelo Carena Plant Sciences Richland County

Programs of study that include course-work related to salinity/selenium, water treatment and management include Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Systems Management, Civil Engineering and Construction, and Geosciences.  

Irrigator education  Dr. Thomas Scherer and Aung Hla Ag. & Biosystems Engineering, statewide
Water testing and treatment education Dr. Bruce Seelig and John Nowatzki Ag. & Biosystems Engineering, statewide

Dr. David Franzen, Extension Soils Specialist, Soil Science, NDSU Fargo

Dr. Jimmie Richardson, Professor, Soil Science, NDSU Fargo

Dr. Larry Cihacek, Associate Professor, Soil Science, NDSU Fargo

Dr. Dean Steele, Associate Professor, Ag. & Biosystems Engineering, NDSU Fargo

Dr. Gregory McCarthy, Professor, Chemistry and Geology, NDSU Fargo