Sodic water for irrigation of crop.

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Water on our site is high in sodium concentration. I want to know what are the common problems or difficulties with the use of sodic water for irrigation of crops? Thanks

5 Answers

  2. Sodium is a phytotoxic substance, this means that if its quantity in irrigation water exceeds the phisiologic limits, it is damaging to any crop except the "alophiles" species. Unfortunately, the commercial crops generally are slightly alophiles and more often they are "alophobes". The presence of sodium in irrigation water as well as other dissolved substances, increases the osmotic pressure of solution formed into soil. When the osmotic pressure of such solution is higher than the nutritive solution circulanting within roots, it will happen the passage of liquid from less concentrate solution to more concentrate one. In other words, irrigating with salty water, liquids, instead to enter by capillars to feed vegetable organisms, will exit by capillars causing more serious damages to growth. For these reasons it is absolutely suggested to reduce the salty of irrigation waters first of all, if there is presence of sodium which is able to move the calcium and magnesium absorption of vegetables causing more and more serious damages. More indicative of suitability with irrigation of water, it is the SAR index which is resulting from combination of Sodium, Calcium and Magnesium level. A SAR index higer than 6 indicates a water not suitable with irrigation and it is preferrable not use it in any crops. When an irrigation water has a SAR index more high than 6 it means it has an high sodium level. But if the same water has also other substances as Chloride, Sulphates, Boron, Nitrates over the limits, that water needs to be desalinated to use it in irrigation. But if the same water has only Sodium excedng the limits can be useful a new technology for selective removal of sodium from irrigation waters. This technology is very effective because allows to remove Sodium replacing it with Calcium and Potassium, so, it improve surely the SAR index reducing it below 6. It is an extremely symple and economic treatment because it consist in a normal filtration stage trough special medias having the property to keep passing Sodium releasing Calcium or Potassium. Such medias periodically are to be regenerated. In both cases, when salty waters with bad chemical parameters are available and they are to be used in irrigation, INGIAIMO Technologies can help the growers at cheap price and affective and durable facilties. info@europure.it

  3. Sodic water

    hello priyanka, Elevated sodium and chloride concentrations in water can harm some woody plants due to direct toxicity as ions are taken up by the root cells or applied directly to the leaves. Either way, ions can accumulate in the leaves, causing burn along the outer leaf edges. In addition, sodium can indirectly affect crop growth by causing calcium, potassium, and magnesium deficiencies or by adversely affecting soil physical properties. this is my practical experience on my horticulture fields....

  4. sodic water or water with high sodium is not safe of irrigation, please have water analysis for calcium and magnesium also to see the sodium absorption ratio, high sodium gives high SAR, water is safe as long as it is not forming salts combining with other ions like clorin, if there is no alternative for this water, apply a good drainage system to leaching of soil thanks

  5. Use of sodic water in irrigation

    FAO has published at the following link a good scientific article: http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5871e/x5871e05.htm
    Chahtech SA has developed and manufactures actually a new underground irrigation technology "the buried diffuser" which could reduce the negative impacts of irrigation using sodic water. For more informations on the "buried diffuser" visit this website: www.chahtech.com