1. You need to know how salt affects the
health of your crops and the microbial
activity of the soil that nurtures them!
It is important to determine the effect of
salt on plant growth & soil health.
You may not know it, but Nebraska - and the
rest of the ag world - has a problem. And it
is getting worse every year.
Salt & salinity is an increasing issue for
Nebraska farmers!
Farmers & high school teachers
can do this as well as anyone!
Regular testing with simple equipment
and methods is where you start.
You can do a lot to fix it if you have
a salt problem!
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist
– or even a soil scientist - to deal with
the problem.
2. Controlled Environment Growing
Cloche Cold Frame
Justin’s Greenhouse
& Cold Frames
Row Cover w. Fabric
Row Cover
w. Plastic
Robinette High Tunnel
Gene’s Small
Greenhouse
Crete H. S. Greenhouse
There are many
ways to extend
the growing
season.
Note Shade Cloth
Note Shade Cloth
3. Effects of soil salinity on the growth
of selected common plants
Started from 1” plugs on 1/15 2012.
Photos taken March 24, 2012.
All soil samples are composted dairy
cow manure, perlite and peat moss in
varying proportions.
EC 2.2 EC 1.8 EC .9
Tech info: All measurements
were taken with a 1:1 slurry
using well water of EC 1.0, so
the readings are slightly higher
than they would be using
deionized water. All measure-
ments were done on the day that
they were transplanted into
these pots.
These plants were grown in a
greenhouse with a night time
temperature of 45-50 F and a
daytime temperature of 60 to
100 F, depending on the
weather. No artificial lighting.
Each plant received ¼ teaspoon
of Cheese Creek Organic Plant
Food at time of transplanting.
EC = salinity as measured in dS/m. dS/m = deciSiemens per meter = internationally recognized
unit for measuring conductivity = level of salinity of the soil or water being tested.
Garden Mums
Chrysanthemum morifolium
All rights reserved by Gene G. Gage Heartland Organics Martell, NE
4. Effects of soil salinity on the growth
of selected common plants
EC = salinity as measured in dS/m. dS/m = deciSiemens per meter = internationally recognized
unit for measuring conductivity = level of salinity of the soil or water being tested.
Slide # ??
EC=2.6 EC=2.1 EC=1.8
EC=2.6 EC=2.1 EC=1.8
Started from 1/2” plugs on 2/25/12
Photos taken March 24, 2012.
All soil samples are composted cow manure, perlite
and peat moss in varying proportions. No fertilizer was
used. Samples tested were 1:1 slurries of the soil
medium and well water. EC values are those at the
beginning of the trial. By the end of the trial, the EC
values ranged from 1.1 – 1.5. (Leaching had
occurred!)
Better Boy Tomatoes
EC=2.6 EC=2.1 EC=1.8
All rights reserved by Gene G. Gage Heartland Organics Martell, NE
5. EC 2.2 EC 1.8 EC .9
Started from 1/2” plugs on 2/15/12
Photos taken March 24, 2012.
All soil samples are composted cow manure,
perlite and peat moss in varying proportions.
No fertilizers were added. Measurements were
taken with a probe directly into the pots five
minutes after they were watered – at the
beginning of the trial.
Bell Boy Peppers
EC = salinity as measured in dS/m.
dS/m = deciSiemens per meter = internationally recognized unit for measuring conductivity = level of salinity
of the soil or water being tested.
6. Dry Beans Germination Trial – Summer 2011
Ordinary beans provide a quick and easy
way to check the salinity (EC)(Electrical
Conductivity) of your soil.
In this trial, I sowed one bean in each of
three pots. Each column if three pots
contains one soil. Soil 1 is the soil mix I
used then (1/2 compost). Soils 4 & 5 are
pure commercial non-manure composts.
Soils 2, 3, 6, 7 & 9 are commercial soil
mixes from various companies. The EC of
numbers 1, 4 & 5 ranged from 3.2 – 4.0.
The EC of the commercial packaged soil
mixes ranged from .7 to 1.4, as measured
with a probe into the pots. (This was
before I knew about 1:1 slurries as a
standard.)
7. Perform your own pH and EC tests
You will need:
• Samples of three different soils – 1 cup each
• Well Water – 2 cups
• Distilled water – 2 cups
• Three plastic containers
• Calibrated Measuring Scoop 1/8 cup
1. Mix 1/8 cup of sample #1 with 1/8 cup distilled water in container #1
2. Mix 1/8 cup of sample #2 with 1/8 cup distilled water in container #2
3. Mix 1/8 cup of sample #3 with 1/8 cup distilled water in container #3
4. Thoroughly mix each soil sample with the distilled water.
5. Insert EC probe into each sample and record the temperature of the samples. Record the EC
value of each sample.
6. Using the pH test strips (and following the directions on the package) determine the pH of each
sample and record it. If you have a pH probe, you may use that.
7. Repeat steps above using well water in place of distilled water. Record results. Note difference
between well water and distilled water results – both for pH and EC.
