Effect of Intermittent leaching on Behavior of Magnesium and Sodium Ions in sabkha soil for selected regions in central Iraq

The study was conducted in order to determine the effect of intermittent leaching on the behavior ofmagnesium and sodium ions in sabkha soil compared to the other main ions. Three locations wereselected from the soil of central Iraq (Yusufiyah/Baghdad, Al-Shomali/Babylon, Al-Shamia/AlDiwaniyah). The soil was characterized by the high electrical conductivity between (131.48 - 206.92 dSm-1), low pH and it is characterized by dark brown color. The chemical traits for the main ions wereestimated where observed a reduction in the electrical conductivity values in the final leaching, rangingfrom 3.12 dS.m-1to 4.71 dS.m-1and a high soil pH. The speed coefficient of leaching for Magnesiumion, It was found that it occupies an intermediate position between sodium and calcium ions. The resultsof the study showed the predominance of magnesium chloride salts in sabkha soils and sodium chloridein Yusufiyah soils, which are in transition from Shoura to Sabkha because they contain a highpercentage of magnesium chloride.