EC measures the concentration of dissolved salts in soil water. It's an early warning system — high EC means salt stress is building before visible symptoms appear, while very low EC can indicate insufficient nutrient availability overall.
Measured continuously by NutRE™'s electrochemical sensors as part of every full soil reading.
High salt concentration makes it harder for roots to draw in water, mimicking drought even in moist soil.
Salts accumulate at leaf margins and tips, causing browning and necrosis starting from the edges inward.
Seedlings are highly sensitive to EC — high salinity zones show patchy, delayed, or failed germination.
Excess sodium and chloride compete with essential nutrients like potassium and calcium for root uptake.
Illustrative comparison — actual symptom severity varies by crop species, growth stage, and the presence of compounding deficiencies.