My neighbour at the allotment uses salt water to water his brassics, it seems to keep the slugs and snails off the but what effect does it have on the soil / plants or is it safe to use salt water ??????
If it builds up in the soil it makes it infertile. I suppose you could get away with it in our damp climate, but salt buildup from irrigation with very slightly saline water has been the ruin of many a civilisation.
Thanks for the reply Robert, I thought as much but was not too sure hence the question
I suppose in a rotation, if he only uses it on his brassicas, then the three years without brassicas, should give the salt chance to leech out the soil.
Myself personally though so not regard salt as organic so would not use it myself - but then again is beer?
Thanks red clanger, it may leach out but i don't think I'll try it somehow doesn't seen right to me???
Back in my university days I did a number of long term experiments regarding the effects of salinity on the growth of wheat. Probably not the perfect comparision to brasiccas, but hey, it may provide something for you to ponder.
I certainly found that even low salt concentrations had a big impact on growth, but bizarrely at high concentration (4-5% in solution) it not only stunted growth, but caused the wheat to form ears incredibly early (from what I can only imagine was massive stress and shock).
So, personally I'd advise against it unless you're using in isolated traps. I've tried salt traps on my patch but all the slugs and snails have ignored them to date.!! The best thing I've found for their control is Growing Success's Advanced Slug & Snail Killer - the pellets are rainproof, safe for pets and wildlife, and they are organic too.