Surface and micropore properties of saline soil profiles

Based on water vapor adsorption–desorption isotherms, the specific surface and its energetic and geometric properties were estimated for twelve profiles of saline soils of different salinity. The contents of clay fraction and organic matter governed the CEC and the surface area of the soils. The contribution of clay fraction to the CEC was over four times smaller than that of the organic matter, whereas the contribution of clay to surface area was around three times larger. The average water vapor adsorption energy decreased logarithmically with the increase of the sodium adsorption ratio and linearly with the increase of pH. The amount of soil micropores increased with the increase in surface area. The surface fractal dimension appeared to positively correlate with soil CEC.