Salinity problems occur when soluble salts, from irrigation in productive soils, are concentrated, which is called secondary salinization. This phenomenon affects humanity since the beginning of agriculture, and there are historical records of migrations caused by salinization of arable land.
Salinity affects growth and crops production by reducing the water potential of the soil solution, thereby decreasing water availability, and creating a nutritional imbalance due to the high concentration of elements (Na+, Cl-) that can interfere with mineral nutrition and cell metabolism.
Salinity problems occur when soluble salts, from irrigation in productive soils, are concentrated, which is called secondary salinization. This phenomenon affects humanity since the beginning of agriculture, and there are historical records of migrations caused by salinization of arable land.
Salinity affects growth and crops production by reducing the water potential of the soil solution, thereby decreasing water availability, and creating a nutritional imbalance due to the high concentration of elements (Na+, Cl-) that can interfere with mineral nutrition and cell metabolism.
Calcium has a moderating effect on salinity effects and especially on the sodium in the soil and in the plant.
Calcium, being a bivalent cation with a lower hydration layer, moves sodium out of exchange complex and improves the aggregation of saline soils. A most important activity of calcium and other cations in soils with sodium reduces the toxic effects of this element in plants.
Calcium also promotes the exchange in the clay-humus complex of the soil and the displacement of its sodium ions which are leached and separated from the exchange complex, reducing the percentage of interchangeable sodium.
