Proper fertiliser selection to reduce salinity problems Seite 1 von 2

Proper fertiliser selection to reduce salinity problems

In greenhouses, soil salinity is caused by the use of low nutrient fertilisers, by rising water tables, and by the use of
saline irrigation water. Salinization of greenhouse soils by fertilisation can be avoided by using the proper fertilisers
(Sonneveld, 1988).

Table 1 shows the effect on the EC of various fertiliser combinations, compared to KNO3, when the N and K input are
kept at constant levels. Replacement of KNO3 by combinations 2 and 4 will result in almost 50 % increase in the EC,
while combination 3 almost doubles the EC, compared to KNO3. Therefore, proper fertiliser selection will help to
reduce the risk of soil salinity and associated yield reduction, in particular when salts cannot be washed down by
irrigation.

Table 1. The effect on the EC of various fertiliser combinations, compared to KNO3, when the N and K input
are kept constant.

Combination Dose rate N K2O Source EC EC per dose rate EC

gram gram gram 1 g/l, mS/cm, 25 C mS/cm %

1 KNO3 1,00 0,135 0,455 1,35 1,35 100

2 KCl 0,76 0,455 1,79 1,36

AN 0,40 0,135 1,60 0,64

Total 1,16 0,135 0,455 1,99 148

3 KCl 0,76 0,455 1,79 1,36

AS 0,64 0,135 1,91 1,23

Total 1,40 0,135 0,455 2,59 192

4 SOP 0,91 0,455 1,47 1,34

AN 0,40 0,135 1,60 0,64

Total 1,31 0,135 0,455 1,97 146

Crops are more salt-sensitive when grown under dry climatic conditions than under humid conditions. This was shown
in a comparison of studies done on salinity yield decrease, carried out under glass in a rather humid sea climate
(Sonneveld, 1988), compared to those in open air in a dry climate (Maas and Hoffman, 1977). Salt accumulation at
the soil surface will occur when conditions are dry and irrigation is not sufficient to wash down the salts.

Negative effects of salinity on the quality of glasshouse produce are often related to calcium deficiency. In such cases
the supply as well as the distribution of calcium may be affected by salinity. For example in lettuce, after the addition
of sodium chloride to the irrigation water equivalent to 1 dS/m (8,5 mmol NaCl/l), the yield reduction caused by tip
burn (25 %) was much larger than the one caused by the growth reduction (5 %) (Sonneveld, 1988).

When potassium nitrate is not chosen as the preferred N and K source, then ammonium- and/or chloride-containing
fertilisers have to be used as alternative N and K sources. This may lead to various anion and cation antagonisms in
plant uptake, which consequently negatively affects plant growth and development.

References:
Maas, E.V. and G.J. Hoffman. 1977. Crop salt tolerance. Current assessment. Journal of the Irrigation and Drainage
Division, Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers 103 (IR2): 115-134.
Sonneveld, C. 1988. The salt tolerance of greenhouse crops. Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science 36: 63-73.

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Last Updated on Friday, 12 March 2010 11:20

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