How to Remove Sodium From Soil
Soil that has high levels of salt is a challenge for gardeners. Few salt-loving plants exist, making it difficult to have a thriving garden in such conditions. However, a lot of the salt can be removed from the soil by leaching it out with water. The salts dissolve in the water and are flushed away. Well-draining soil will be needed for this to be most effective. Apply 6 inches of water to remove up to 50 percent of the salt and 2 feet of water to remove 90 percent of the salts. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Install a soil moisture gauge into the lawn by driving the spike into the ground. The gauge will indicate how much water is being added to the soil and how wet it is.
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Turn on an irrigation system, such as a soaker hose, in the early morning or late evening. This time will ensure that the water seeps into the soil instead of evaporating in the sun. Soaker hoses work better than sprinklers because the water goes straight into the soil rather than the environment, but a sprinkler will work in a small yard with low salt levels.
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Check the rain water gauge regularly to see how much water has been applied to the lawn. The amount of water will depend on the irrigation system, which may need to be left on overnight to deliver the necessary volume of water.
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Turn off the water after the desired level is reached. Allow the soil dry to its normal moisture level. Test a soil sample to see how much of the salt has been eliminated. Repeat the procedure if the soil still has high levels of salt.
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Tips & Warnings
If the soil has a layer of clay in it,the soil must be tilled and amended to increase the draining properties. Add perlite or sand to the mix until the soil feels like a wrung-out sponge. Clay will prevent the salt from washing away.
Leaching the soil will also wash away some of the nutrients, so add compost or rotted manure to the soil to fertilize it.
References
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Lifesize/Getty Images
