<p>A36 steel is one of the most widely used materials in the oil industry for the manufacture of hydrocarbon storage tanks. This study investigates physicochemical effects of soil in contact with welded joints of A36 steel used in the bottom plates of storage tanks, focusing on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior. The sandy soil used in the base of the storage tanks was characterized. SCC susceptibility was evaluated using slow strain rate tests (SSRT), with specimens tested in air as a reference and in water-saturated soil. The SSRT were performed on specimens previously exposed to saturated soil for different periods of time. The SCC index indicated that A36 steel welded joints have a greater tendency to suffer SCC than the base material (BM). However, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the fracture surfaces and longitudinal cross-sections revealed the presence of pitting corrosion but no evidence of cracking.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>