Describing for diagnosis

Symptoms of injury to plants, salt-related causes, and evaluative tests

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Symptom	Possible Salinity-Related Cause*	Diagnostic Method(s)
Dead (necrotic) edges of leaves	Salinity of soil exceeds plant’s tolerance	Test samples of soil and irrigation water for salinity and chloride.
	Concentration of boron exceeds plant’s tolerance	Test samples of soil, irrigation water, or plant tissue for boron.
Dead tips of leaves	Salinity of soil exceeds plant’s tolerance	Test samples of soil and irrigation water for salinity and chloride.
	Concentration of boron exceeds plant’s tolerance	Test samples of soil, irrigation water, or plant tissue for boron.
Abnormally yellowed (chlorotic) leaves	Salinity of soil exceeds plant’s tolerance	Test sample of soil for salinity.
	Sodium decreases soil’s permeability, to plant’s detriment	Test sample of soil for salinity, including sodium, calcium, and magnesium ions; calculate sodium adsorption ratio (SAR).
Abnormally yellowed areas between veins of leaves	Concentration of chloride, sodium, or boron exceeds plant’s tolerance	Test samples of soil, irrigation water, or leaves for chloride, sodium, and boron.
Abnormal dropping of leaves (defoliation) or premature aging of plant (senescence)	Sodium decreases soil’s permeability, to plant’s detriment	Test sample of soil for salinity, including sodium, calcium, and magnesium ions; calculate sodium adsorption ratio (SAR).
Shriveled roots	Salinity of soil exceeds plant’s tolerance	Test sample of soil for salinity and chloride.

* Many non-salt-related causes may also be possible.

Adapted from Abiotic Disorders of Landscape Plants: A Diagnostic Guide, by Costello, Perry, Metheny, Henry, and Geisel (2003).

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