Avoid High Soil Salinity to Keep Your Trees Healthy and Happy

Spring might still feel far away, but it will be here sooner than you know it. This means you’re going to start having to think about taking care of your gardens, lawns and trees once again.

One thing you’re going to want to take into consideration this year, especially if you haven’t done so before, is salinization. This is the process in which water-soluble salts build up in the soil through both natural and anthropogenic processes, and high soil salinity in Newton, MA can have a negative effect on your plant life. Primary salinization is the result of a buildup of salts over years through processes such as weathering of materials and the deposition of oceanic salts that can be transferred from place to place through weather events.

According to information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, secondary salinization can also occur. This is the result of excessive use of water for irrigation due to either inefficient irrigation distribution systems, poor management practices at farms and inappropriate management of drainage on such properties. Other causes include replacing perennial plants with annual plants, and the general process of land clearing.

How does salinization affect plant life?

Both primary and secondary salinization will affect plant life negatively. They result in decreasing the rate of growth in plants, as well as cutting back the overall population of plants in a particular area. This occurs because the more salt there is in the soil, the less ability these plants will have to take up water, because the salt in the soil will suck up all the water instead. A high level of salinity in the soil will also prevent plant growth due to soil saturation and rising water tables, which will prevent the leaching of water-soluble salt.

Fortunately, there are some steps that can be taken to limit high soil salinity in Newton, MA. This takes strong soil management practices, but the result will be a more optimal growth of vegetation. Homeowners and land managers alike can help to prevent soil salinity and salinization by testing soil regularly, selecting plants that fit the conditions of the property (usually native species), ensuring there is enough time that passes in between watering, and using the proper fertilizers for the types of plants and soils in the area.

In addition, planting native trees will help protect against high soil salinity, because it will prevent surface water from going down toward the groundwater and will establish some perennial vegetation, which improves natural regeneration and productivity.

These are just a few issues you should keep in mind when thinking about the kinds of plants you’ll keep on your property and what you can do to prevent issues associated with a high level of soil salinity. For more information about what causes high soil salinity in Newton, MA and what you can do to protect against the effects of this problem, we encourage you to contact BBD Tree Service today with any questions. We’ll be happy to provide you with the answers you need.

Categorised in: Soil Testing

This post was written by Writer