SALTS Are salts always bad for plants?No. Fertilizers are salts, salts can be plant nutrients. Just EXCESS salts are bad Define: Saline soilssoils with an EC greater than 4mS/cm Salts -soluble - more soluble in water than gypsum -insoluble - less soluble in water than gypsum List 3 examples of soil salts potassium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate Sodicsoil with a pH higher than 8.5 sodium predominates and an SAR above 12 Sodium Adsorption Ratiothe ratio between sodium and calcium and magnesium Where do soil salts come from? 1.salty water 2.bedrock 3.deicing salts 4.fertilizer 5.water softeners 6. bad irrigation practices Pick 3 of these and determine how you could protect your plants from these salts or minimize the amount of salt going into the soil1. use alternate sources of water, mulch to limit water use2. plant salt tolerant plants3. choose eco friendly alternatives 4. choose fert with a low salt index 5. use alternate sources of water or bypass the water softener 6. soak and let dry rather than lightly water each time What does excess salts look like….. on the plant burning on the edges of the leaves (dessication)wilting In/on the soilbad structure white crust deposits which cause runoff and puddlingstops seed germination What other effects do soil salts have on plants? excess salt can be toxic to plant material - may show up as a nutrient deficiency excess salts will stop the plant from absorbing water