EC probe in water and soil -guidelines needed Cancel The title field is required!

1. Murray Ian W

   
   12/5/2011 8:12 AM

   I am suspect with my irrigation water, I have seen tip burn where my irrigation lake has read 1.5 on a portable EC meter. All charts I have seen show that this range should be okay, and our heights over 1" in cut (fairways, roughs, etc.) do fine. I had a ryegrass check out when the levels were at 1.52 EC or better.
   
   Q: Do you have any info or personal experience where you have witnessed foliar burn, seedling necrosis, or other problems for which an elevation in salts were to blame?
   
   My issue here is the vagueness of all charts. None of them say "on a putting green mowed at..." The charts just tend to state bermuda, p.rye, bentgrass, etc. No data on height of cut nor phase in development sensitivities.
   
   Any data marks you have would be appreciated. -Ian

   
   
   
   
2. Larry Stowell

   

   0 posts
   
   12/5/2011 9:12 AM

   Check the page below and click on "EC (electrical conductivity) monitoring for soil salinity" link.
   
   http://www.paceturf.org/index.php/public/free_stuff/
   
   You will need to define the salt tolerance at your site by recording turf quality and associated turf performance at a variety of close-by locations where the turf is declining. Soil salinity is only one part of the soil total water potential and specific ion toxicity. For example, moderate salinity on clay soils will result in wilt at higher volumetric water content than on sandy soils - clay soils literally suck water away from the roots when the soil dries.
   
   You also need to remember that the direct soil reading of 1.5 is equivalent to a saturated paste extract of almost 5 dS/m (same as mmhos/cm). The tolerance of ryegrass is in the 3-6 dS/m range (saturated paste extract or equivalent) for no stress - you are in the stress range for many ryegrass varieties.
   
   If you scan down a few pages into the report below, you will find some ryegrass establishment data. As soil salinity increases, establishment drops and 5 dS/m where the rye establishment drops off pretty fast.
   
   http://www.paceturf.org/PTRI/Documents/ ... s/0210.pdf
   
   As you mentioned, there are no specific values for salinity tolerance, only ranges. You will have to fine-tune the tolerance guidelines at your site using the EC meter as you have done and then manage with a site-specific, precision approach.