Response of Some Arid Zone Grasses to Brakish Water
Abstract
Salinity tolerance of five grass species, Cenchrus pennisetiformis Hochst. & Steud., Leptochloa fusca (L.) Kunth., Panicum turgidum Forssk., Pennisetum divisum (Gmel.) Henr. and Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl. was assessed after 6 weeks growth at four salinity
treatments, 2.4 (control), 8, l6, and 24 dS/m which were prepared by mixing four salts, NaHCO3, MgSO4, 7H20, CaCl2, 2H20 and NaCl in 1:5:10:30 ratio in half strength Hoaglands's nutrient solution.
Shoot biomass production in L. Fusca and P.distans was not affected by salinity in both mean and relative terms and they had significantly greater shoot fresh and dry matter than the other species at all salinity treatments. Penniserum divisum was the worst affected since it had the lowest fresh and dry biomass of both shoots and roots of all the species, whereas C.pennisetiformis and P.turgidum were intermediate in biomass production. Leptochloa fusca accumulated relatively greater concentrations of Na+, Cl-, K+ and Ca2+ in the shoots than the other species. By contrast, P.distans contained relatively high Cl-, and low Na+ and K+ in the shoots. Cenchrus pennisetiformis absorbed relatively greater amounts of Na+ and ca2+ in the shoots, but restricted the Cl- accumulation in the shoots and had moderate shoot K+ concentration. Panicum turgidum was relatively intermediate in Na+ and Cl- accumulation in the shoots but was the highest in accumulation of Na+, Cl- and K+ in the roots. Pennisetum divisum, which was the poorest in biomass production
contained relatively moderate amount of Na+ in the shoots but had high K+ and Cl- at different salt treatments. It was established that C.pennisetiformis and P.turgidum were intermediate in tolerance to salinity, whereas P.divisum was sensitive in relation to L.fusca and P.distans.
treatments, 2.4 (control), 8, l6, and 24 dS/m which were prepared by mixing four salts, NaHCO3, MgSO4, 7H20, CaCl2, 2H20 and NaCl in 1:5:10:30 ratio in half strength Hoaglands's nutrient solution.
Shoot biomass production in L. Fusca and P.distans was not affected by salinity in both mean and relative terms and they had significantly greater shoot fresh and dry matter than the other species at all salinity treatments. Penniserum divisum was the worst affected since it had the lowest fresh and dry biomass of both shoots and roots of all the species, whereas C.pennisetiformis and P.turgidum were intermediate in biomass production. Leptochloa fusca accumulated relatively greater concentrations of Na+, Cl-, K+ and Ca2+ in the shoots than the other species. By contrast, P.distans contained relatively high Cl-, and low Na+ and K+ in the shoots. Cenchrus pennisetiformis absorbed relatively greater amounts of Na+ and ca2+ in the shoots, but restricted the Cl- accumulation in the shoots and had moderate shoot K+ concentration. Panicum turgidum was relatively intermediate in Na+ and Cl- accumulation in the shoots but was the highest in accumulation of Na+, Cl- and K+ in the roots. Pennisetum divisum, which was the poorest in biomass production
contained relatively moderate amount of Na+ in the shoots but had high K+ and Cl- at different salt treatments. It was established that C.pennisetiformis and P.turgidum were intermediate in tolerance to salinity, whereas P.divisum was sensitive in relation to L.fusca and P.distans.
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