Coastal saline soil: drain and wash first, then talk fertility
A fertile dressing on undrained salt is a waste.
- Spring frost, patchy emergence, near the sea or a tidal river.
- Ask whether the ditch actually runs.
- Coastal fields are often chloride salty soil; pH is not always extremely high.
- Drought is dry soil; salty soil often has white crust and still wilts when wet.
- Don’t flood without drainage; don’t throw compound on the salt patch.
- Washing salt: In and out. Follow the local quota. No outlet, don’t irrigate
- Name what you see before you feed.
- If leaves, roots and the surface disagree, stop.
What you see in the field
Spring frost, patchy emergence, near the sea or a tidal river. Ask whether the ditch actually runs.Squat on the whitest, worst strip and scrape the crust. Compare with a neighbour that is still green. White crust plus scorched margins count; wilt without a crust may just be drought. Note whether the ditch actually runs.
Tap to enlarge. The caption says what to photograph. Missing field photos are marked as to-be-added.
Why it looks like this
The field looks like this because the root cannot take water or nutrients the usual way. Fix the soil condition first — drainage, salt, acidity, compaction or a salt of fertiliser — then a thin feed. Rates live in the range on this page; confirm with a local station and the label.
Easy to mix up
Looks like “Sodic alkali soil”
Coastal fields are often chloride salty soil; pH is not always extremely high.
Looks like “Drought”
Drought is dry soil; salty soil often has white crust and still wilts when wet.
Do this / don’t do that
- 1Compare the worst plants with a neighbour ridge. Photograph whole plant, close-up and soil surface before you add fertiliser.
- 2Match roots, leaves and the soil surface to this guide. If they do not line up, do not copy a bag count.
- 3Use the rate range on this page only as a range. Confirm with a local station and the product label.
Don’t do this first
- Don’t flood without drainage; don’t throw compound on the salt patch.
Rate range
Washing salt
In and out. Follow the local quota
No outlet, don’t irrigate.
Cover
Straw or plastic film
Cut the rising-salt lift.
These are ranges. Confirm with your local extension station and the product label.
When you see Spring frost, test. If the leaf and the soil disagree, test before you pour.
Lesson video
2026-03-20 · Li Zeyu · For learning. Serious damage: local agronomist or a soil test.
For learning only. Fertiliser and pesticide decisions need a local agronomist and a soil test.
Not sure? Photograph the field to identify the problem