How to Remove Salt From Soil for Hogs

Hogs are often raised on less desirable pieces of land, with mixed results. In some cases the pigs will improve the land, tilling and fertilizing it while they work to remove every last weed and root in the area. If the soil is too salty, however, it can harm the pigs, perhaps even killing them. The pigs will ingest too much salt as they forage, which can cause various health problems. If you have very salty soil, there are some steps you can take to remove much of the salt before turning your pigs loose on it.

Things You'll Need

  • Irrigation equipment
  • Ditch-digger, tiller, tractor or shovel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the pigs from the area. Pen them up where they can't get to the salty soil until you have removed as much salt from the soil as possible.

    • 2

      Flood the salty area with large amounts of water. Soak the entire area completely and evenly so that you don't end up with pockets of salt on or near the surface of the soil. Use water that is low in salt, since using salty water will add to the problem rather than correct it. Repeated soaking of the area will cause the salts to leach down through the soil, effectively eliminating them.

    • 3

      Dig drainage ditches in salty areas that also have a high amount of groundwater. Leaching alone can't get rid of salts if the soil is naturally wet, so ditches are required to remove the salt from the area. Be certain that the salty runoff does not contaminate other fields or waterways. Many times the water can be channeled into a low-lying area and allowed to evaporate.

    • 4

      Contact your county cooperative extension office if you need assistance with handling the runoff. Your area may have laws affecting what you can and cannot do with water that is high in salt or other chemicals. The extension office may also be able to offer help or advice for constructing a drainage system.

    • 5

      Return the hogs to the area once the soil has had a chance to dry. It doesn't need to be completely dried out, but it should not be flooded, since the salt will still be present until the water soaks into the ground.