Sodium (Na) was long believed to be an essential nutrient only for animals but not for plants.
Even though sodium deficiency symptoms can’t be observed in plants, sodium applications show increase in yields in some plants.
For healthy and productive soil, you should aim for a sodium concentration of less 1.0 meq/100g (meq = milliequivalents). High sodium levels can be remediated by watering more frequently and applying gypsum. It is also worth investigating the source of soil sodium.
Functions of Sodium
- Electrolyte which is needed for energy and growth.
- Increases plant palatability.
- Improves crops storage.
- Essential for livestock health.
Excess of Sodium
- Causes leaves to burn out due to an excess of energy.
- Creates nutrient imbalances.
- Leads to high pH
- Dispersion of soils particles – soil collapses.
Excess of Sodium
Sodium Inputs
- Seawater contains multiple elements of sulfur and photosynthetic bacteria.
- You can apply sea water 100-1000 litres/ha.
- Only apply if plan tissue tests are below 0.6% and Base Saturation is below 1.5%.
Sea water has high concentrations of Sodium
Sodium as a chemical element
Sodium is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive alkali metal. Sodium is the sixth most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and exists in numerous minerals such as feldspars, sodalite, and rock salt (NaCl).
Sodium ions have been leached to oceans from the Earth’s minerals, consequently sodium and chlorine are the most common dissolved elements by weight in the oceans.
