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bj_delo

Soluble salts

15 years ago

Does anybody know what acceptable levels of soluble salts are for strawberries? I just received soil test results back and didn't really know. Pretty sure it's not an issue for my strawberries because they are looking good, just curious.

Thanks,

BJ

Comments (9)

  • 15 years ago

    I've seen it listed as sensitive. Yield loss begins at 1.0 mmho/cm. Are those units on your soil test results?

  • 15 years ago

    The results we have always received from the University of Tennessee have always been in ppm.

  • 15 years ago

    The data I have is for a soil saturation extract and states 0% yield loss @ 1.0 mmhos/cm, 10% @ 1.3, 25% @ 1.8 and 50% @ 2.5, crop growth ceases @ 4.0. Even if your Ec is higher than ideal, you may be able to manage the situation with irrigation practices depending on your water quality.

  • 15 years ago

    I just found a chart of soluble salt ratings for ppm from our university.

    0-360 - Very Low- Salt effects mostly negligible
    361-1060- Low- Field crops mostly unaffected
    1061-1760- Medium- Favorable range for most established plants
    2461-3160- High- Reduced yields and growth of many plants
    3161+- Very High- Severe salt injury and death may occur.

    My ppm was 2058. Little higher than I would hope for, but acceptable I guess.

  • 15 years ago

    bj:

    In TN, with all the rain you get, this is higher than I'd expect. Have you been adding a lot of manure or something else that might be high in salts?

    My sodium is around 200 ppm in most areas. At one time I had old horse pens that tested 1100 ppm sodium. This was enough to cause leaf burn on cherry. I leached that area with about 12 inches low salt well water and plant growth was fine thereafter.

    If your soil drains well excess salts should be leached out with a good rainy period of several months. If drainage is questionable and you add high salt material, then there could be an issue.

  • 15 years ago

    The soil does have a fairly high amount of composted manure in it. It is in my raised beds which I filled with the topsoil/compost mix and sphagnum moss. My strawberries look pretty good, but they're not established so I hope there is still good fruit production next year. The winters are usually pretty wet for us so I'd say that will help leach some of the salts out of it.
    The soil pH is a little high as well though. 7.3. I know strawberries like it slightly acidic, but will it being a little basic affect the fruit production or should I try to correct it asap?

  • 15 years ago

    bj, strawberries grow well here at pH 7.3 and above. As long as they aren't iron deficient you are fine.

  • 15 years ago

    The soil report says the iron levels are sufficient so I think I should be good on that one. What is an ideal organic matter percentage? Mine is 6.1% so from what I have seen I am at or above ideal levels on that as well.

  • 15 years ago

    6.1% OM is very good. We run about 1% here.