Salinity (NaCl), Waterlogging, and theirCombined Effects on Germination and SeedlingGrowth of Four Turfgrass Species

摘要

Salinity and waterlogging are two major abiotic stressors commonly associatedwith irrigated soils. In this experiment, tall fescue cv. Stonewall, Kentuckybluegrass cv. Bewitched, blue grama ecotype Bad River, and buffalograss cv.Texoka were germinated under well-drained (control), waterlogging (i.e.,flooding), saline (5 g NaCl/liter), or a combination of waterlogging and salineconditions (saline-waterlogging) in two greenhouses (Study I and II). Plants wereevaluated on germination percentage, shoot and root fresh weight, and thelongest root length. Waterlogging with tap water did not inhibit seed germinationor seedling growth. Germination, shoot and root fresh weight, and the longest rootlength were significantly decreased under saline conditions, alone or combinedwith waterlogging. The highest reduction occurred under saline condition alonewhich ranged from 36% of the control in the longest root length in Study I to 1%of the control in root fresh weight in Study II. Soil salinity levels were similarbetween the control and waterlogging treatments, which was significantly lowerthan the salinity treatment and the combined effects. Tall fescue was the mosttolerant to both salinity and waterlogging stresses. Kentucky bluegrass, bluegrama, and buffalograss showed a similar level of tolerance to salinity,waterlogging, and the combined stress.