Excess salt accumulates in tissues and causes damage. Leaf edges are dead and brown. This usually takes place in the eldest leaves first. This is key in distinguishing salt burn from windburn, as windburn develops first on young leaves. Leaves with salt burn damage may be a lighter green than normal and in severe cases drop off entirely.
Excess salts accumulate in the soil and travel to leaf edges where tissue is killed off.
Salts also interfere with water uptake in the plants. This can also happen if fertilizer applied in correct amounts is not diluted somewhat by a thorough watering after the treatment. Salt burn damage will not disappear from damaged leaves, but you can avoid further future damage. In areas of low rainfall, use heavy irrigation about once a month to leach accumulated salts from the soil. Improve drainage around the plants.