Due to the rising salinity levels that growers experienced during the summer of 2022, several samples from different locations in Chowan and Perquimans County were taken and sent to NCDA&CS to ensure the meter housed at the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Chowan County Center office was reading Electrical Conductivity (EC) levels correctly. The sample reports from NCDA&CS indicated the Chowan EC meter was reading salt levels accurately (April 2023).
The current salinity of the Perquimans River is 4.25 parts per thousand, (as of April 17th, 2023) which is unsuitable for vegetable irrigation.
For those who have questions about whether it is safe to irrigate, please do not hesitate to contact me at sarah_richardson@ncsu.edu to check the salinity level before an irrigation event occurs that may be damaging to the crop and soil. You may also bring water samples to the Chowan office to be tested as needed.
The NCDA recommended levels for irrigation potatoes are as follows:Cl <70 ppm
Na <70 ppm
EC <75 mhosx10-5/cm (<0.75 mS/cm)
pH 5.4-7.0
Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) <3-9
