Question

Salt is used to melt snow and keep roads clear during the winter in many cities. Land adjacent to de-iced roads often ends up with a high concentration of salt in the soil. Explain why plants growing near salted roads may appear wilted in the spring.

Answer 1

Salt is commonly used in the cold climatic regions, where the snow accumulation blocks the roads. These salts are then helpful in melting the snow and clear the road for transportation. The use of this salt has a direct impact on the plants that are located adjacent to the roads. These salt particles when mixes with the soil, the solute concentrations present in the soil decreases the growing potential of the plant by decreasing the amount of water that the plant can hold. This also results in excessive loss of water. Thus, the plants in this region appears to wilt during the spring season.