What are the common problems or difficulties with the use of sodic water for irrigation of crops?
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. In addition to being a salinity component of irrigation water, sodium poses a more troublesome problem in soils containing more than 30% of a swelling type clay. On such soils, sodium changes soil physical properties, leading to poor drainage and crusting, which can affect crop growth and yield. Irrigation with sodic water on sandy soils does not cause crusting and poor drainage, as the sodium is more readily leached from the soil profile. However, if the water is saline-sodic, crop growth and yield may be compromised on sandy soils.
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