http://www.bluegranola.com/2009/11/29/new-solutions-to-the-world%e2%80%99s-most-dire-problems/ Blogging about water sustainability and conservation Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:15:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.bluegranola.com/2009/11/29/new-solutions-to-the-world%e2%80%99s-most-dire-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Brad Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:54:39 +0000 http://www.bluegranola.com/?p=286#comment-26 In your posting on a new solution to salt on crop land, you said the problem with salt is that "because these salts absorb all the water in the soil." Salt is a problem, but not really for that reason. Instead, what happens is that the higher concentration of salt in the soil outside of the plant cells causes water to move outside of the cells to try and equalize the concentration, this occurs through the process of osmosis. Root cells die and, if bad enough, the plant will die. The damage gives the plant a burnt look- often on the leaf edges first. Some types of plants can tolerate higher levels of salt and not be damaged. Their cells have a high concentration of salt already in them, so the water doesn't move out." (The info is from Answers.com) In your posting on a new solution to salt on crop land, you said the problem with salt is that “because these salts absorb all the water in the soil.” Salt is a problem, but not really for that reason. Instead, what happens is that the higher concentration of salt in the soil outside of the plant cells causes water to move outside of the cells to try and equalize the concentration, this occurs through the process of osmosis. Root cells die and, if bad enough, the plant will die. The damage gives the plant a burnt look- often on the leaf edges first. Some types of plants can tolerate higher levels of salt and not be damaged. Their cells have a high concentration of salt already in them, so the water doesn’t move out.” (The info is from Answers.com)

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