Salinity tolerance of ornamental grasses adapted to semi-arid environments

McKenney, Cynthia B.; Mahato, Tilak; Schuch, Ursula K.

doi:10.17660/actahortic.2016.1112.13

Cited by 4 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…In common rush, the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents determined by chemical extraction and spectrophotometer were not significantly different among treatments (data not shown). These results are in line with a previous report that increasing salinity stress did not change the SPAD reading of blue muhly, indian sea oats, and foothill sedge (McKenney et al, 2016).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Except for sand ryegrass, all ornamental grass and grasslike plants irrigated with solutions at an EC of 10.0 dSÁm -1 had a 13% to 36% reduction in height compared with the control. McKenney et al (2016) documented in their research that blue muhly and foothill sedge plants irrigated with solutions at an EC of 10.0 dSÁm -1 were much shorter than those at lower EC levels, but indian sea oats exhibited similar height among salinity treatments.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Visual scores were not assigned at the second harvest date for blue grama and common rush as a result of an aphid infestation. McKenney et al (2016) observed that the visual quality of blue muhly grass (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri), indian sea oats, and foothill sedge (Carex tumulicola) plants were barely affected by increasing salinity until an EC of 5.0 dSÁm -1 was reached, but declined sharply at an EC of 10.0 dSÁm -1 . They also found that blue muhly grass irrigated with solutions at an EC of 10.0 dSÁm -1 still had acceptable visual quality, but indian sea oats and foothill sedge exhibited poor visual quality.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Responses of Ornamental Grass and Grasslike Plants to Saline Water Irrigation

Sun¹,

Palmer²

2018

hortte

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Ornamental grasses are popular in urban landscapes in Utah and the Intermountain West United States, one of the driest and fastest growing regions in the United States. This experiment evaluated the responses of five ornamental grass species [blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), indian sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium), ‘Blue Dune’ sand ryegrass (Leymus arenarius), pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris), ‘Foxtrot’ fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)] and two ornamental grasslike species [fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea), common rush (Juncus effusus)] to saline irrigation water in a greenhouse. Plants were irrigated weekly with a nutrient solution at an electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.2 dS·m–1 (control) or saline solutions at an EC of 5.0 or 10.0 dS·m–1. At the first harvest (9 weeks after the initiation of treatment), sand ryegrass, pink muhly grass, and fountain grass irrigated with solutions at an EC of 5.0 and 10 dS·m–1 had good visual quality with no or minimal foliar salt damage; however, the remaining species exhibited slight or moderate foliar salt damage. There were no significant differences in shoot dry weight (DW) among treatments within any species, except fox sedge and fountain grass. At the second harvest (18 weeks after the initiation of treatment), sand ryegrass, pink muhly grass, and fountain grass still had no or minimal foliar salt damage, and indian sea oats and fox sedge exhibited slight or moderate foliar salt damage. Compared with the control, all species irrigated with solutions at an EC of 10.0 dS·m–1 had reduced shoot DWs with the exception of blue grama. However, only common rush and pink muhly grass irrigated with solutions at an EC of 5.0 dS·m–1 had lower shoot DWs than the control. These results demonstrated that seven ornamental grass or grasslike species had a very strong tolerance to the salinity levels used in the 4-month experiment. Although plant growth was inhibited as a result of saline irrigation, plant visual quality of sand ryegrass, pink muhly grass, and fountain grass was still acceptable. These three species appear to be more suitable for landscapes in which saline irrigation water is used. Further research is needed to evaluate more ornamental grasses for landscapes in salt-prone areas and nearby coastal regions.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Responses of Ornamental Grass and Grasslike Plants to Saline Water Irrigation

Sun¹,

Palmer²

2018

hortte

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“…Plant height of blue muhly grass and Carex tumulicola Mack. (foothill sedge) were barely affected by increasing salinity until an EC of 5.0 dS • m -1 , but declined significantly at an EC of 10.0 dS • m -1 at 8 weeks of exposure to saline water in a hydroponic system (McKenney et al, 2016). Saline solution at an EC of 10.0 dS • m -1 also reduced the leaf area of indian sea oats, Juncus effusus L. (common rush), and fountain grass at 9 weeks after the initiation of treatment (Sun and Palmer, 2018).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Similarly, Muhlenbergia lindheimeri Hitchc. (blue muhly grass) had an acceptable visual quality when they were grown for 8 weeks in a hydroponic system with saline solution at an EC of 5.0 or 10.0 dS • m -1 achieved by the addition of a 2:1 ratio of NaCl to CaCl 2 in half-strength Hoagland solution (McKenney et al, 2016). In a previous study, sand ryegrass, pink muhly grass, and fountain grass irrigated with saline solution at an EC of 5.0 or 10 dS • m -1 for 18 weeks also had a good visual quality, with minimal foliar salt damage (Sun and Palmer, 2018).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth, Gas Exchange, and Mineral Nutrients of Ornamental Grasses Irrigated with Saline Water

Wang¹,

Sun²,

Niu³

et al. 2019

horts

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Ornamental grasses are commonly used in urban landscapes in Utah and the Intermountain West of the United States. The relative salt tolerance of Eragrostis spectabilis (Pursh) Steud. (purple love grass), Miscanthus sinensis Andersson ‘Gracillimus’ (maiden grass), Panicum virgatum L. ‘Northwind’ (switchgrass), and Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash (little bluestem) were evaluated in a greenhouse. Plants were irrigated with a nutrient solution at an electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.2 dS·m–1 (control), or saline solution at an EC of 5.0 or 10.0 dS·m–1. At harvest (65 days after the initiation of treatment), P. virgatum and S. scoparium exhibited no foliar salt damage, and E. spectabilis and M. sinensis had minimal foliar salt damage when irrigated with saline solution at an EC of 5.0 dS·m–1. At an EC of 10.0 dS·m–1, P. virgatum and S. scoparium still had no foliar salt damage, but E. spectabilis and M. sinensis displayed slight foliar salt damage, with visual scores greater than 3 (0 = dead; 5 = excellent). Compared with the control, saline solution at an EC of 5.0 and 10.0 dS·m–1 reduced the shoot dry weight of all ornamental grasses by 25% and 46%, respectively. The leaf sodium (Na+) concentration of E. spectabilis, M. sinensis, P. virgatum, and S. scoparium irrigated with saline solution at an EC of 10.0 dS·m–1 increased 14.3, 52.6, 5.3, and 1.7 times, respectively, and the chloride (Cl–) concentration increased by 9.4, 11.1, 2.8, and 2.7 times, respectively. As a result of the salt-induced water deficit, plant height, leaf area, number of inflorescences and tillers, net photosynthesis rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gS), and transpiration rate of four tested ornamental grasses decreased to some extent. Although high Na+ and Cl– accumulated in the leaf tissue, all ornamental grass species still had a good visual quality, with average visual scores greater than 3. In conclusion, all ornamental grasses showed a very strong tolerance to the salinity levels used in this research.

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Salinity Tolerance of Select Wildflower Species in a Hydroponic Setting

Andrenko¹,

Montague²,

McKenney³

et al. 2020

horts

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Water quality and quantity are critical issues in the Southwest United States and many other locations in the world. Use of reclaimed water for landscape irrigation can conserve potable water significantly and possibly reduce fertilizer application. A potential concern of using alternative water sources is elevated salt levels, which can have adverse effects on plant growth and aesthetic appearance. Most Texas native wildflowers are known to be hardy and easy to maintain, and are drought tolerant after establishment. In addition, native wildflowers provide wildlife habitat and support native pollinators. However, little information is available on salinity tolerance of many Texas native wildflower species. In this study, two separate hydroponic experiments were conducted to determine salt tolerance of three Texas native wildflower species: Gaura villosa Torr. (wooly gaura), Xanthisma texanum DC. (Texas sleepy daisy), and Ipomopsis rubra (L.) Wherry (standing cypress). Species were suspended in a hydroponic setting using a randomized complete block design with a control [municipal reverse-osmosis (RO) water with a nutrition solution at an electrical conductivity (EC) of 3.0 dS·m–1] and three salinity treatments: 5.0, 7.0, and 11.0 dS·m–1 EC. Sixty days after salinity treatments were initiated, percent survival, visual rating, fresh weight, and length measurements were recorded on root and shoot tissue. To determine tissue percentage sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), and chloride (Cl–), shoot and root tissues were dried and ground for tissue analysis. At the end of each experiment, total percent survival for X. texanum, G. villosa, and I. rubra were 100%, 94%, and 76%, respectively, with the greatest mortality rate at the highest salinity treatment. Shoot dry weight and plant growth index (PGI) decreased in all three species as salinity of irrigation water increased. Visual qualities of all species were mainly compromised at the highest salinity level. Ion concentrations in root and shoot tissues were affected by salinity levels and varied among species. Different mechanisms of salt tolerance (ion exclusion, salt excretion, and tissue tolerance to high concentrations of Na+ or Cl–) have been observed among wildflower species, and results indicate different salt tolerance mechanisms were exhibited by each trial species. In addition, results indicate I. rubra can be identified as moderately salt tolerant (EC up to 7.0 dS·m–1), whereas, X. texanum and G. villosa can be classified as salt tolerant (EC up to 11.0 dS·m–1). Results from this study suggest great potential of these native Texas wildflowers in landscapes using limited-quality irrigation water or landscapes with soil salinity concerns.

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Salinity tolerance of ornamental grasses adapted to semi-arid environments

Cited by 4 publications

References 6 publications

Responses of Ornamental Grass and Grasslike Plants to Saline Water Irrigation

Responses of Ornamental Grass and Grasslike Plants to Saline Water Irrigation

Growth, Gas Exchange, and Mineral Nutrients of Ornamental Grasses Irrigated with Saline Water

Salinity Tolerance of Select Wildflower Species in a Hydroponic Setting

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