Baled Bermuda grass is grown in Californian
Sodium
Baled Bermuda grass is grown in Californian and shipped to China, Japan and other asian countries. Those countries grow protein, but end up short of carbohydrate feeds for animals.
Soils in southern California can be high in sodium. If that is the case, the Albrecht/Kinsey way of dealing with it works exceptionally well. In some cases, 9-10 tonnes of lime/ha have been applied to reduce sodium and magnesium to levels where the land supports viable crops.
Sodium (Na) should measure between 0.5 and 3% on the base saturation
It is rarely deficient (there are 6 ppm in rain), and should not (but sometimes does), exceed potassium in base saturation as sodium will be taken up by the plant instead. On hot days, this can lead to cell walls bursting and the plant dehydrating. In severe cases, the plants, including pasture, can die.
We have yet to see a situation where sodium is seriously deficient, but we do not allow sodium to become so and usually add a small amount when below par levels are seen for two years. This is primarily to ensure the microbes have enough for them to support plant growth.
We have observed the negative effects of excess sodium, when applied to fodder beet. In this case the Colorado river is the source of sodium, adding it via irrigation.
These figures from the Perry Agricultural Laboratory soil audit show excess sodium that inhibited sugar beet production.
Calcium 46.03%, magnesium 30.29%, potassium 3.04%, sodium 17.14%, pH = 8.1.
17 months later, after adding 10 tons of lime to the acre, the corresponding figures are,
61.86%, 24.50%, 4.12%, 6.61%, pH = 7.9.
(On this soil, the target is Ca 69%, Mg 11%. pH will never be less than 7.5 or more.)
If sodium is in excess, correct the calcium first, then use sulphur to reduce sodium if it is still in excess.
Sodium is involved in osmotic (water movement) and ionic balance in plants. Na may be important in some plants such as sugar beet, but is less so in fodder beet.
