Performance of some perennial grasses on severely salinised sites on the inland slopes of New South Wales

Abstract

Thirty perennial grass accessions were evaluated for emergence, growth and persistence at 6 severely salinised seepage scalds on the western slopes of New South Wales. Warm-season accessions were sown or planted in spring 1996 and 1997, and cool-season types in autumn 1996 and 1997. Control species, tall wheat grass (Thinopyrum ponticum) and puccinellia (Puccinellia ciliata) were sown in spring and autumn. Plants were monitored over 2 growing seasons. None of the accessions, including the controls, performed well at all sites. Of the accessions established from seed, tall wheat grass was the most reliable in terms of the number of successful establishments but its growth potential was only achieved at a few sites. Some warm-season species (Panicum coloratum, Chloris gayana and Cynodon dactylon) approached their growth potential at some sites but overall rates of establishment were very low. The performance of puccinellia appeared to be adversely affected by low pH. It was concluded that on severely scalded sites, vegetative propagation of stoloniferous–rhizomatous plants, e.g. Pennisetum clandestinum, Paspalum vaginatum and C. gayana, may be the best option.

Nutrient Uptake Responses and Inorganic Ion Contribution to Solute Potential under Salinity Stress in Halophytic Seashore Paspalums

“…Seashore paspalum ( Paspalum vaginatum Swartz), a halophytic warm season grass, has recently gained interest for use on saline turfgrass and forage sites, drainage water reuse schemes, and land reclamation under saline conditions (Duncan and Carrow, 2000; Semple et al, 2003; Grattan et al, 2004; Rogers et al, 2005). Seashore paspalum exhibits a wide range in salinity tolerance among ecotypes (Lee et al, 2004b, 2005).…”

Wild halophytic species as forage sources: Key aspects for plant breeding

“…Paspalum vaginatum is one of the species of the genus with highest salt tolerance (Uddin, Juraimi, Ismail, Othman, & Rahim, ). There are records about its introduction for forage and turf use under saline conditions and its ability for rehabilitation of saline soils (Duncan & Carrow, ; Grattan et al., ; Rogers et al., ; Semple, Cole, & Koen, ). Marcum and Murdoch () and Lee, Carrow, Duncan, Eiteman, and Rieger () found that accumulation of organic solutes and the uptake of inorganic ions are the main mechanisms responsible for osmotic adjustment and tolerance to salt stress in this species.…”

Predictions of watertable depth and soil salinity levels for land capability assessment using site indicator species

“…The soil salinity levels recorded where the puccinellia and samphire were present in this study were higher than expected. Samphire has been reported to show its best growth at soil salinity levels of 25 -40 dS/m ( Barrett-Lennard et al 2013) and puccinellia has previously been reported to show its best growth at soil salinity levels of 16 -32 dS/m (Semple et al 2003) and 13 -24 dS/m in the top 30 cm (Hamilton 1972). It can also withstand periodic flooding under these conditions (Rogers and Bailey 1963).…”