Why would seawater decrease crop production of ...?

Question

If farmlands were located near coastal regions and they were being threatened by encroaching sea water seeping into the soil, in terms of water movement into or out of cells why would the seawater decrease crop production?

Answer 1

As mentioned above, saltwater kills plants. It kills them because of osmosis, yes, but because the water will flow OUT of the cells into the saltier water outside the cell. Osmosis is all about water flow, not salt movement. Salt doesn't generally move in and out of a plant cell passively and indiscriminately like water does. Salt moves actively through the plant cells which means the plant can control the salt movement in and out of the cell.

Essentially, the crops will become water stressed because the water is being pulled out of their roots. Check out osmosis if you need more detail about why that happens.

This exact thing is happening in areas of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in Northern California, and probably all over the place!

Answer 2

Because seawater has a high salt content. This salt, through osmosis, would enter the root system of the plants (more salt outside than in, salt flows in). This would kill the plants.

Answer 3

Saline water is a hypertonic answer with regards to the plant cellular. Now, whilst this hypertonic answer penetrates into the cellular, plasmolysis of the cellular (not that of the cellular wall) occurs, which reasons it to decrease & lose its usual events of cellular metabolism. The water technique of this form of cellular decreases with the aid of 'exosmosis'. for this reason, the entire plant is degraded & will become much less effective.

Answer 4

Most plants will not survive the salinity of sea water.

Answer 5

too much salt baby