Seed for Salt and Alkali Soils

Saline, sodic and alkali soils are challenges for farmers, ranchers and landowners. While these soil conditions will never be ideal or produce forage equal to more hospitable soils, there are solutions that will provide some satisfactory results. We offer a variety of seeds adapted to salty/alkaline conditions.

dry land of Salt & Alkali Soils Pasture Mix, Salt and Alkali Soils Seed

Seed for Salt and Alkali Soils

Salt and Alkali Soils Seed
“Pots” Salt Flats, Monitor Valley, Nevada

Saline, sodic and alkali soils present challenges for farmers, ranchers and landowners. While these soil conditions will never be ideal or produce forage and biomass equal to more hospitable soils, there are solutions that will provide some satisfactory results. We offer a variety of seeds adapted to salty/alkaline conditions.

The pH Scale

The linear pH scale:

The pH scale at right is the scale we are accustomed to. It is useful for visualizing pH on a linear scale from acidic (top) to basic (bottom). We frequently see the scale from left (acid) to right (basic). This scale helps us understand pH using common household items and points of reference we know from day-to-day living. From a soils standpoint, we can visualize where soil fits on the scale at a glance.

The scale has shortcomings, though, and is misleading if we don’t understand how pH really works. False encouragement can result if the numbers are not correctly understood and taken in context.

pH is logarithmic

The logarithmic pH scale:

The linear pH scale we normally see is an oversimplified representation of the way pH is actually measured. pH is logarithmic, meaning a change in one numeric value equals a ten-fold change in acidity or alkalinity. In other words, a soil with 8 pH is ten times more alkaline that a soil with 7 pH. This has dramatic implications for plant selection, and demonstrates why a plant that tolerates a 7.2 pH wont even begin to establish in a 7.5 pH.

Note in our chart that we have not extended the logarithm past 5 acidic and 9 alkaline. Very few organics will survive in those conditions. We created this chart so you could visualize the dramatic increase in soil toxicity as pH moves further from neutral.

Soil Tests:

Anytime a customer considers planting in saline and alkaline soils we strongly encourage a soil sample. It’s the first step in determining which species are suited to our site. A soil lab can analyze the makeup of your soil and provide a chemical/mineral “picture” of your soil. The analysis will also include information critical to the selection of appropriate plant species, soil preparation and conditioning methods and fertilizer/chemical recommendations. Once you have that information, you can select species that will survive within the pH and other parameters of your site. As you can see from the chart above, an analysis that gives you test results to the .10 is crucial.

The folks at Stukenholtz Laboratory have great customer service, accurate tests and speedy results. They offer fertilizer recommendations with the analysis. The cost of a soil sample (about $20-$50.00, depending upon the kind of test) can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars in seed, fertilizer, diesel fuel and development costs. The soil sample gives you a baseline to work from, and narrows your choices down to what is known to work. Visit their website for instructions on how to pull and submit a sample. Once you have the results give us a call us…we will walk you through the process of choosing seed based on the test results.

Stukenholtz Laboratory
2924 Addison Avenue, E
PO Box 353
Twin Falls, ID 83303-0353
(208) 734-3050  -or-  (800) 759-3050

Plants adapted to salt and alkali:

Contrary to popular belief there are several species available for planting in salt and alkali conditions. The two tables below list a number of adapted species. The tables are divided into the following “general categories”:

  • Dryland: sites with 11″ or less annual precipitation
  • Irrigated: sites with 12″ or more annual precipitation, or, sites with supplemental irrigation

Soils high in salt and alkali (or basic soils) present challenging growing conditions. Basic soil conditions range from mildly alkaline, requiring little more that a variety selected for tolerance, to highly alkaline, nearing the point where very little will even survive in the conditions. Valley bottoms, “sump” areas, margins of marshy and/or damp areas and desert valleys and lowlands commonly present with these challenging soil situations. While these areas are challenging, there are solutions that will return an investment and turn a useless plot into a stand that will produce something of value.

To purchase our Saline & Alkali Soil Pasture Mix visit the product page here.

Seed for Salt and Alkali Soils:

 

Dryland SpeciesToleranceMin. Precip.
AC Saltlander Green WheatgrassVery High12"
Alkali SacatonVery High10"
Tall WheatgrassVery High8"
Yellow SweetcloverHigh8"
Slender WheatgrassHigh10"
Crested WheatgrassHigh6"
Siberian WheatgrassHigh5"
Russian WildryeHigh7"
Perennial RyegrassModerate12"
Basin WildryeModerate10"
Western WheatgrassModerate7"
Thickspike WheatgrassModerate7"
Blue GramaModerate8"
Bluebunch WheatgrassModerate8"
Smooth BromeFair12"
Intermediate WheatgrassFair11"
Pubescent WheatgrassFair11"
Sandberg BluegrassFair6"
Streambank WheatgrassFair6"
Indian RicegrassFair7"
Sheep FescueFair9"
Sand DropseedLow9"
Dahurian WildryeModerate11"
Small BurnetModerate11"
Annual Rye GrainModerate11"
Ranger AlfalfaFair11"
Ladak AlfalfaFair11"
Paiute OrchardgrassFair11"

 

Irrigated SpeciesToleranceMin. Precip.
Arizona FescueFair12"
Idaho FescueLow12"
Prairie JunegrassModerate12"
Smooth BromegrassModerate12"
Hard FescueFair12"
Cicer MilkvetchModerate12"
Annual RyegrassModerate12"
Perennial RyegrassFair12"
Meadow BromegrassModerate14"
OrchardgrassFair14"
SainfoinFair14"
Fixation Balansa CloverHigh16"
Frosty Berseem CloverHigh16"
Strawberry CloverHigh16"
Ladino CloverModerate16"
Red CloverModerate16"
Reed CanarygrassFair16"
Tall FescueHigh16"
AlfalfaVariable by variety16"
TimothyFair16"
AlsikeFair18"
White CloverFair18"
Kentucky BluegrassFair18"
Garrison Creeping FoxtailModerate20" (variable)
Hercules Tall WheatgrassHigh16"
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