How can dissolved salts in irrigation water damage crops and soil?

Dissolved salts in irrigation water can significantly damage both crops and soil through the following processes:

Impact on Crops

• Dehydration: Plants typically absorb water through their roots via osmosis. When salt levels in the soil are too high, the osmotic pressure reverses, causing water to flow from the plant roots back into the soil, which dehydrates the plant.1
• Nutrient Uptake Inhibition: Excess salinity hinders a plant's ability to absorb essential nutrients, such as nitrogen.1
• Toxicity: In some instances, dissolved salts can be directly toxic to plants when absorbed through the root system.2

Impact on Soil

• Salt Accumulation: As irrigation water evaporates or is transpired by plants, the pure water leaves behind the dissolved salts, which accumulate in the soil.123
• Sodic Soil Formation: Through cation exchange, sodium ions from the water can replace calcium on clay particles. This creates "sodic" soils, which become sticky when wet, hard and cloddy when dry, and nearly impervious to water and root penetration.2