More people than ever are wanting their own source of water independent
of town/scheme/public supplies. When considering purchasing property,
be sure to have the bore and/or well water, and even tank, water
tested for possible contaminants and salinity factors. Below is
a salinity guideline outlining what limits are suitable for humans,
domestic use and plant life.
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mS/m 0 |
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A 80 mS/m Highly salt-sensitive plants |
Avoid wetting leaves on hot dry days | Pastures-Landino clover, Red clover, Alsike clover, White clover Fruit-Strawberry, raspberry, loquat, stonefruit, citrus, apples, pears Vegetables-Green beans, parsnips, celery, radish, squash, peas, onion, carrot Ornamentals-Primula, gardenia, star jasmine, begonia, rose, azalea, camellia, ivy, magnolia, fuchsia |
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Systems (160 mS/m) |
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B 80-230 mS/m Mildly salt-sensitive plants |
1. Avoid wetting leaves during the day time. 2. Avoid light frequent waterings. 3. Water quickly and use continuous wetting sprinklers if wetting the leaves. |
Pastures and Crops-Strawberry clover, maize, lovegrass, cocksfoot, oats, wheat,
rye, lucerne Fruit-Mulberry, grape Vegetables-cucumber, capsicum, lettuce, sweet corn, rock melon, potatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, watermelon, broccoli, pumpkin, squash, tomato Ornamentals-Hibiscus, geranium, gladiolus, zinnia, poinsettia, lantana, Thuja orientalis, Dodonea, banana, Juniperus chinensis, Callistemon vininalis |
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Consumption (250 mS/m) |
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C 230-550 mS/m |
1. Avoid wetting leaves of most plants possible. 2. Adequate leaching necessary. |
Pastures-Paspalum dilitatum, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Phalaris, Sudan grass, Perennial ryegrass,
Millet, Wimmera ryegrass, barley, Pangola grass, Tall fescue,
Rhodes grass, Kikuyu, Couch grass, Tall wheat grass Fruit-Olive, fig, pomegranate Vegetables-asparagus, kale, garden beets. Ornamentals-Stock, chrysanthemum, carnation, oleander, rosemary, bougainvillea, vinca, coprosma, Japanese pepper, Ficus spp in general, false acacia. Queensland pyramid tree, N.Z. Christmas Bush, Eucalyptus botryoides, E. camaldulensis, Rottnest ti-tree, Rottnest cyprus, Buffalo grass, Kikuyu grass, Portulacca, mesembryanthemum, boobyalla, morrel, swamp yate, York Gum, swamp mallet, couch grass, bamboo, Kondinin blackbutt, Actinostrobus pyramidalis |
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(470 mS/m) |
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Milk Producing (550 mS/m) |
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(620 mS/m) |
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550-2000 mS/m Salt-tolerant plants |
1. Do not wet leaves where possible 2. Excellent drainage and leaching necessary |
Pastures-Saltwater couch (P. vaginatum) Puccinelia, sand couch (Sporobolus virginicus) Fruit-Date palm Ornamentals-Phoenix canariensis, salt river gum (E. Sargentii), saltwater couch (Lawn), Melaleuca thyoides, salt sheoaks, (Casuarina cistata and C. glauca), tamarisks, saltbushes |
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(700 mS/m) |
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(1000 mS/m) |
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(1100 mS/m) |
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(1550 mS/m) |
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More than 2000 mS/m |
Too salty for irrigation |
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(1650-2200 mS/m) |
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NOTES: Results of water analysis for salinity are quoted in millisiemens
per metre (mS/m) at 25*C. mS/m is a unit of electrical conductivity
(EC). To convert values in (mS/m) to an approximate mass/volume
of TSS (TOTAL SOLUBLE SALTS) refer to the following ratios:
* Under average conditions the precautions listed should enable
satisfactory growth of the suggested plants. Yield for virtually
all plants would be progressively reduced as saltier waters are
used.
**Plants are grouped in approximate order of salt tolerance in
each column with the least tolerant listed first. The difference between two or three plants near one another
in each group is small and possibly not significant. The plant
and water groupings are not rigid, merely a general guide. Salt
texture and drainage could be overruling factors. Plants listed
as suitable for salty waters will nevertheless grow better with
less salty water.
Source: Western Australia Department of Agriculture