Magnetic susceptibility can provide rich environmental information, especially for hazardous heavy metals and saline-alkaline in the contaminated soils. Magnetic susceptibility in four vertical profiles from saline-alkaline soils in lower Hai River basin was investigated. Soil sites were extended from alluvial fan to coastal plain areas. They are aligned along a latitudinal strip. Magnetic parameters including low/high frequency susceptibility, frequency-dependent susceptibility was measured. Moreover, some standard pedological parameters such as pH value and organic matter content were also determined. The results showed that low frequency magnetic susceptibility values is very high at the surface and decreases with the profile to a low value. In all profiles from alluvial fan frequency-dependent susceptibility greater than 3% may suggest the presence of relatively more super-paramagnetic particles. Magnetic susceptibility showed obvious vertical distribution in alluvial fan higher than coastal plain. No significant correlations between organic matter, pH and low frequency magnetic susceptibility were found. while there is a negative correlation between organic matter and frequency-dependent susceptibility. A positive correlation between pH and frequency-dependent susceptibility was found in the study areas. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.