This booklet contains a variety of activities and experiments linked to VELS; aimed at providing students with advanced knowledge about salinity and its impacts.

All natural waters contain some dissolved salts, which are vital for aquatic plant and animal growth. However, high levels of salt can make water unsuitable for uses such as drinking and irrigation, and may harm plants and animals.  High amounts of salt make it hard for many types of plants and animals to take up water, leading to dehydration, upsetting natural salt levels within tissues, and in severe cases leads to death.

The two main types of salinity are dryland and irrigation salinity. Dryland salinity occurs mostly due to the widespread removal of native deep-rooted trees which caused the watertable to rise. Irrigation salinity occurs because large amounts of water are applied to crops; some of this water enters the ground and causes the watertable to rise. Irrigation has similar effects as that of a large rain event falling on cleared land; there is not enough vegetation to take up the rain so most of it enters the groundwater system.

Our salinity problems have resulted largely from human activities which have changed the environment. The reason behind most salinity problems has been a rise in watertable levels which brings salts to the soil surface. This has occurred where large scale clearing of native trees and vegetation was undertaken. Before clearing much of the water that fell was used by the trees which maintained the groundwater level; however after clearing the water that fell soaked into the soil causing the watertable to rise.

Documents: 

NCCMA 7468 - Salinity Activity Booklet for Schools

NCCMA 2263 - Salinity Education Booklet