The presence of water in the soil does not necessarily mean that plants can use it effectively.

Especially during the summer months, when irrigation becomes more frequent, salt accumulation in the root zone can become an overlooked challenge. Dissolved salts carried into the soil with irrigation water remain behind as water is taken up by plants or lost through evaporation. Under inadequate drainage and irrigation management, these salts can gradually accumulate in the root zone.

According to FAO, irrigation water quality, drainage conditions and soil characteristics all play an important role in the development of salinity in irrigated agricultural areas.

Why Can Plants Experience Water Stress Even When the Soil Is Moist?

The issue is not simply the amount of salt present in the soil. As salt concentration increases around the root zone, it becomes more difficult for plants to absorb water. As a result, plants may experience the effects of water stress even when the soil appears to contain sufficient moisture.

Salinity can also affect plant growth and the balance of nutrient uptake. Prolonged exposure to high salinity levels may restrict root development and overall plant performance.

Irrigation and Fertilization Should Be Considered Together

During summer, irrigation frequency often increases to meet higher crop water demand. However, focusing solely on the amount of water applied is not enough. Irrigation water quality, soil drainage characteristics, the crop’s growth stage and fertilizer application rates should all be evaluated together.

The same principle applies to fertilization. Applying more fertilizer does not necessarily result in better plant growth under saline conditions. FAO’s technical guidance on plant nutrition and irrigation water quality also indicates that when a crop’s nutritional requirements are already being met, additional fertilization alone is not an effective solution to salinity-related problems.

Maintaining Balance in the Root Zone Is Essential

An effective plant nutrition program during hot periods is not simply about supplying the necessary nutrients. It is also about maintaining root-zone conditions that allow plants to make effective use of those nutrients.

Regular soil and irrigation water analyses, appropriate irrigation scheduling, assessment of drainage conditions and fertilization according to the actual needs of the crop should therefore be considered together when managing salinity risks.

Because effective plant nutrition is not only about which nutrients are applied and in what quantities, but also about how effectively the plant can use them.

At CİTSA, we approach plant nutrition as an integrated process in which soil, water, climate and crop requirements must be evaluated together.

References

FAO – Water Quality for Agriculture: Salinity Problems
FAO – Management of Salt-Affected Soils
UC Davis – Agricultural Salinity and Drainage