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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Salt build-up in hoophouse soil

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  • From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Salt build-up in hoophouse soil
  • Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:33:18 -0500

> > > Has anyone on the list had problems with excessive salt build up in > organically managed hoophouse soils? We have been growing in our four > hoophouses for three years, and are seeing very high sodium ppm in our > soil analyses for each house this year. The only amendment we have > added is compost over the three years. Any suggestions on how to > address this from your experience? Thanks. > > Greg > Thanksgiving Farm > Zone 5b, NY > >

Greg

Salt buildup is natural as it dissolves in the soil moisture and is left behind when moisture evaporates from the soil surface. This is managed naturally in the field by rainfall, which flushes it down through the soil profile. Out west, where rainfall is bleak, there are soils called "sodic" where the lack of rainfall has led to high sodium content. In the hoophouse, there is no rainfall so no flushing takes place. The situation is exacerbated by the use of compost, which naturally contributes salt (sodium chloride). How much depends on the ingredients used to make the compost. Animal manures can be a rich source of salt.

I've observed the same thing in our HiTunnel. I address it by setting up sprinklers between cropping sequences and flooding the tunnel floor. It helps but has drawbacks. In the long run, I think having the tunnel remain open for a few weeks while changing covers would help, if you get some rain. Also, Eliot Colemans idea of building moveable tunnels (built on rails for sliding) makes good sense. Rotate the tunnels back and forth to the soils in the two alternating sites are given a period of natural rainfall.

You might want to pose the question at the hightunnels.org site to see how others manage this problem.

Bill


William H. Shoemaker
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
St Charles Horticulture Research Center
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

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