Saline Soils and Mancos Shale
Western Colorado
The white soil in this photograph is the result of an accumulation of salts. This is NOT snow.
Many salty areas are visible in Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties of Western Colorado. The accumulation of these salts on the soil surface are due to insufficient precipitation to leach these salts below the root zone of plants. Improving the soil with a coarse organic matter and watering will usually remove these salts from the rooting zone of plants.
Placed on the Internet April 13, 1997; Updated March 1, 2010
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