Soil Salinity and Quality of Sprinkler and Drip Irrigated Cool‐Season Turfgrasses

Abstract

A 3‐yr study was conducted in New Mexico to investigate the effects of saline water on changes in quality, cover, and root zone salinity of seven cool‐season turfgrasses. Plots were irrigated using either sprinklers or subsurface drip with water of 0.6, 2.0, or 3.5 dS m−1. From March to November plots were rated monthly for quality, and green cover was determined using digital image analysis. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0 to 10, 10 to 20, and 50 to 60 cm in June and November and analyzed for electrical conductivity (EC), Na, and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). Changes in soil EC, Na content, and SAR reflected seasonal changes in irrigation and natural precipitation and EC and Na values were highest (6.1 dS m−1 and 943 mg L−1, respectively) in June of 2006 on drip irrigated plots at depths of 0 to 10 cm. Electrical conductivity was higher in drip irrigated than sprinkler irrigated plots on four of the six sampling dates. Irrigation type and water quality did not affect EC and Na at soil depths of 50 to 60 cm. For four of the seven grasses tested, EC, Na, or SAR values showed a significant but weak relationship (0.18 < r2 < 0.27) with turf quality, indicating that more than one stressor affected visual ratings. With the exception of tall fescue [Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.)], cool‐season grasses could not be maintained at acceptable quality levels in the arid transitional climate when irrigated with saline water from either a sprinkler or a subsurface drip system.

Plant Growth Regulator and Soil Surfactants’ Effects on Saline and Deficit Irrigated Warm‐Season Grasses: I. Turf Quality and Soil Moisture

“…Salinity was also not problematic when saline water was applied through SDI. Although our results confirm those of Sevostianova et al (2011a) and Schiavon et al (2012Schiavon et al ( , 2013, who documented increased salinity levels in soil irrigated through SDI, quality and NDVI of subsurface-irrigated turf did not differ for two of the 3 yr between those given saline water and those receiving potable water. These results suggest that it is possible to maintain acceptable quality in warm-season species in an arid environment with deficit irrigation (50% ET OS ) and saline water.…”

“…Beard (1973) predicted limited or no success for subsurface irrigation on turf. Findings by Sevostianova et al (2011a) confirmed some of these concerns and suggested that sprinklers are more efficient than subsurface drip lines in leaching salt from the root zone.…”

“…Parl.] and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.) (Sevostianova et al, 2011a), most warm-season grasses are more salt tolerant than cool-season grasses. Based on these studies, the logical conclusion would be that warm-season grasses should be grown in areas affected by drought and where the use of saline water for irrigation is encouraged.…”

Using Electro‐Magnetic Induction to Determine Soil Salinity and Sodicity in Turf Root Zones

“…Several studies have shown that quality of turf does not decrease over time when irrigated with potable water from a subsurface drip irrigation system (Moore, 2006;Schiavon et al, 2010Schiavon et al, , 2011Sevostianova et al, 2011aSevostianova et al, , 2011b. However, there may be limitations in the ability of SDI systems to leach salts from the root zone.…”

“…However, there may be limitations in the ability of SDI systems to leach salts from the root zone. When SDI systems in combination with saline water are used to irrigate turf areas the fraction of the root zone above the emitters (where most of the roots are accumulated) that receives water only through capillary raise may not be sufficiently flushed with water to leach out the salts (Schiavon et al, 2013;Sevostianova et al, 2011aSevostianova et al, , 2011b.…”