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Fertilizer salt burn can occur when excess fertilizer salts come in contact with the developing root system of young plants. This problem is more likely to occur when banding fertilizer materials containing nitrogen and/or potassium too close to the seed. Broadcasting the fertilizer is less likely to cause burn, but injury can still occur on soils that have a marginal salinity problem, especially coupled with dry weather near planting time. The characteristic symptoms are marginal necrosis of leaves, plants taking on a bluish appearance and/or sudden wilting of the plant. Unless this salt concentration is reduced by rain fall or irrigation, seedlings often die or remain extremely stunted. |