How to Manage Pests

Conditions and locations favoring salt damage to plants

• Arid regions with salts accumulated near the surface due to deposition or rock weathering and little leaching by rain. There may be a dark or white crust on the soil surface.
• Coastal sites where plants are exposed to ocean spray.
• Locations where fertilizers were applied, especially excessive rates and products with a high salt hazard, or salt index.
• Sites irrigated with poor-quality, salty water, such as recycled water (treated municipal wastewater) or from shallow wells or surface water that flowed through arid agricultural areas.
• Low-lying areas with a salty water table near the surface.
• Sites where manures or other salty amendments, or amendments of unknown salinity, were applied, especially in excessive amounts.
• Snowy locations near pavement where deicing salts were applied.

See Nutrient and Mineral Excesses, Salinity, and Salt Toxicity for more information.

An arid landscape with dark and white crusty soil high in salts.