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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Water Management and Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #415139
Research Project: Improving Crop Performance and Precision Irrigation Management in Semi-Arid Regions through Data-Driven Research, AI, and Integrated Models

Location: Water Management and Systems Research

Title: Salinity affects root growth of container grown saltgrass

Author
item Young, Jason
item Comas, Louise
item QIAN, YALING - Colorado State University

Submitted to: International Turfgrass Society Research Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/8/2025
Publication Date: 5/5/2025
Citation: Young, J.S., Comas, L.H., Qian, Y. 2025. Salinity affects root growth of container grown saltgrass. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.70055.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.70055

Interpretive Summary: The need for salinity-tolerant turfgrasses is increasing because it is now commonplace to water turf with poor-quality water containing high salt levels. This issue is particularly common in arid environments. The objective of this experiment was to measure the effects of salinity on root growth and turf quality of two grass species: inland saltgrass and Kentucky bluegrass. When grown with no salinity, moderate salinity, and high salinity, saltgrass had good root growth regardless of salinity level and increased root growth, root surface area, and tillering (production of side shoots) with increased salinity. When exposed to salinity, Kentucky bluegrass decreased root growth and tillering. The fact that saltgrass was unaffected by even the highest salinity levels suggests it is a good candidate for use in saline conditions.

Technical Abstract: The need for salinity tolerant turfgrasses is increasing because of the increased use of effluent or other low-quality waters for turfgrass irrigation. Salinity can affect soils and plants in all climates but is particularly common in arid environments and has numerous causes. Salinity impacts the growth of most plants, albeit with variations among species. The objective of this experiment was to quantify the effects of salinity on root growth of inland saltgrass (Distichlis spicata L. Greene) (SG) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) (KBG), two grasses with contrasting salinity tolerance. In this experiment, SG and KBG were grown in containers within separate growth chambers, each maintained at their optimal growing temperatures. Salinity was imposed on the plants by irrigating with saline waters of ~0, 8, 16 dS/m for SG and ~0, 4, 8 dS/m for KBG. Root growth was monitored using minirhizotron and in-growth soil tubes. The data from in-growth root tubes revealed contrasting effects of salinity on root and rhizome growth trends between SG and KBG. Root growth of SG increased by 22% under 8 and 16 dS/m salinity treatments. Conversely, salinity treatment of 8 dS/m decreased KBG root growth by 33% compared to the control. Saltgrass rhizome growth increased by 130% with the rise in salinity from the control to 16 dS/m treatment, whereas KBG rhizome growth decreased by 57% as salinity increased from the control to 8 dS/m. Minirhizotron observation indicated that SG showed increased flushes of fine roots in the moderate levels of salinity (8 dS/m) compared to the control about 3 weeks after salt treatments began. Increased fine root production greatly increased the root surface area for absorption, an adaptive response of SD to salinity.