Comparison of Mehlich-3, Saturated Paste, and Ammonium Acetate Extractions for Soil Salinity Assessment in Delmarva Coastal Soils

This dataset contains soil physical and chemical properties collected from coastal agricultural fields on the Delmarva Peninsula to evaluate soil salinity and compare extraction methods. Measurements include soil texture (% sand, silt, clay), elevation metrics (including elevation relative to mean higher high water, MHHW), and apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) used to characterize spatial variability in salinity.Laboratory analyses include saturated paste extract parameters (e.g., pH, electrical conductivity [ECe], soluble salts, and concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, and Na), as well as derived indicators such as sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and total soluble ions. Routine soil test results are also included, such as Mehlich-3 extractable nutrients (Ca, Mg, K, Na), cation exchange capacity (CEC), acidity, and soil pH, along with ammonium acetate (AA) extractable cations. All extraction data has been converted to cmol (+) per kg soil. Saturated paste is reported in ppm (mg/L).The dataset was developed to assess relationships among soil salinity indicators and evaluate the potential for routine soil test methods, particularly Mehlich-3, to estimate salinity-related properties in humid coastal agricultural systems. These data support analyses of salinity distribution, soil chemical dynamics, and management implications for salt-affected soils.