Between 1978/79 and 1987/88, not one summer season recorded more rainfall than the long term average (878mm) in the dry tropics of north eastern Australia (Bowen). Without significant recharge of the aquifers the electrical conductivity of some bore waters used for irrigation increased beyond 3dS/m. Experiments were conducted to assess the changes in anion and cation concentrations in a black fine sandy clay loam soil treated with various fertilizer rates and furrow irrigated to compare the effects of high and low conductivity waters. The interaction of the salinity status of the waters and the rates of fertilizer will be discussed. The greatest concentration of salts was found in the surface few centimetres of the beds, at the extremity of the wetting front. The implications for soil sampling will be discussed.