# Controlling Salt Build Up

- Link: https://rd2.co.nz/controlling-salt-build-up/
- Published: 2023-03-29T01:34:09+00:00
- Author: RSF Admin

Written by Donald Lester.

Salt buildup is a common problem for growers; in soil systems, it is characterized
by an accumulation of white or off-white (sometimes even brown or grey) crystals
forming on the soil surface in fields and on the surface of potting mix in pots.
Salt buildup can also occur in hydroponic solutions and in soilless systems. Salt
buildup can be a serious problem for plants because it affects the ability of their
roots to take up water. Plants normally regulate how much water they have in their
system by actively drinking through their roots. When the water surrounding the 
roots becomes too salty, the salty water does not have enough water molecules in
it relative to the fresher water within the plant, so it becomes hard for the plant
to suck up the few water molecules left in the salty water outside. Humans have 
the same problem with their cells trying to get fresh water from salty water- which
is the reason a sailor lost at sea can die of thirst in the middle of the ocean.

“Plants respond to excess salt in the same way they respond to conditions of drought.
The common symptoms are stunting, wilting, drying of the leaves and even death.”

There are several reasons why salt accumulation can occur, including the use of 
high-salt fertilizers, a poor water source, poor water drainage, bad substrate selection
or even salt-sensitive plants. These factors can occur alone or in combination.

“Plants vary in their susceptibility to high salt concentrations.”

One side effect of too much salt is that it can negatively affect the pH of the 
soil or nutrient solution. When a weak acid or a weak base is added to a salt it
is called a “buffer”. If the pH is not in the desired range, then buffering can 
make pH correction more difficult. This is one reason why growers can continue to
add a pH adjuster and see quick results, but then over time, they see the pH drift
back to where it was before the adjuster was added.

Salt buildup can be corrected by leaching, changing the water source, choosing the
proper substrate, switching to fertilizers with a low salt index, by the addition
of calcium or by adapting to the salt by using plants with a high salt tolerance.

## Leaching and your water source

In soil-based systems, salts can be leached out of the soil. Pure water can dissolve
the salts and leach them out of the soil profile, but that is usually not practical
in agricultural fields or large indoor cropping systems. Some growers resort to 
leaching salts out of the soil profile with less salty water. This method works,
but it takes much more water to dissolve the unwanted salts than pure water.

Check the salt levels in your water source – any environmental laboratory can do
this for you. Water softeners add sodium to the water, so softened water should 
never be used for watering plants.

## Substrate choice

Some substrates can be high in salt, so staying away from the main culprits can 
help avoid the problem.

Coir coconut fibre can be one of the offenders, so some industry experts recommend
thoroughly rinsing the coir before use to remove excess salt.

Sphagnum peat and compost made from purely plant sources are both good low-salt 
choices. Ask for an analysis of any organic amendments that you are considering,
and choose your amendments wisely. If no analysis is available, you should test 
a small amount of the amendment before purchasing a large quantity.

When considering substrates, remember that growing media should contain a substantial
quantity of large pores to facilitate good drainage.

## Low salt index fertilizers

In fact, many fertilizers use salts as active ingredients. You can get a good indication
of how much salt is in a fertilizer by looking at the salt index (SI). University
studies have measured how much salt is in certain brands of fertilizer, and they
have been ranked accordingly. It should be noted, however, that the SI does not 
predict the exact amount of fertilizer or the particular formulation that could 
produce crop injury, although it does compare one fertilizer formulation with others
regarding the relative osmotic (salt-related) effects.

“There are several types of salts that can build up in soils and fertilizer solutions,
but sodium chloride (table salt) is arguably the most common.”

It also shows which higher-SI fertilisers will be most likely to cause injury to
germinatingseeds or seedlings if placed in close proximity. For example, a liquid
2-10-10 formula might rank at 27.5, whereas a 2-20-20 might rank at 7.2. Clearly,
using half the rate of 4-10-10 is still saltier than using the full rate of 2-20-
20.

## Addition of calcium

In soils with a high sodium content, gypsum (calcium sulphate) may be applied to
improve the soil structure.Managing soil sodium is really about maintaining optimum
levels of soluble soil calcium- in order to amend salty soil, sodium must be replaced
with calcium, which is usually accomplished with high rates of gypsum. Calcium has
a more powerful electrical charge than sodium, so the application of gypsum will
displace soil sodium. Irrigation then leaches the free sodium through the soil profile,
thus restoring the physical properties of the soil.

## Salt tolerance in plants

Plants vary in their susceptibility to high salt concentrations. Salt buildup is
a common complication. If excessive salt accumulation is an issue in your garden,
then hopefully, these tips will help you isolate and rectify the situation and avoid
the problem in the future.

To view the original paper,** [click here.](https://rd2.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Article-Salt-Buildup.pdf)**