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Title: SALINITY EFFECTS ON EMERGENCE, SURVIVAL, AND ION ACCUMULATION OF LIMONIUM PEREZII

Author
item CARTER, CHRISTY - POST DOC,UC RIVERSIDE,CA
item Grieve, Catherine
item Poss, James

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2005
Publication Date: 5/18/2005
Citation: Carter, C.T., Grieve, C.M., Poss, J.A. 2005. Salinity effects on emergence, survival, and ion accumulation of limonium perezii. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 28(7):1243-1257.

Interpretive Summary: Saline wastewaters may provide a valuable water source for the irrigation of selected salt tolerant floriculture crops as water quality and quantity becomes limited and as demand for quality water increases. We investigated the effects of two different irrigation water ionic compositions and increasing salt concentrations on germination, growth, and survival of Limonium perezii (Stapf) Blue Seas (a.k.a. statice). Irrigation water compositions represented saline drainage waters typically present in either the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) or the Imperial/Coachella Valleys (ICV) of California. Seven salt concentrations ranged from levels approximating drinking water to just less than half that of sea water. Seeds (n = 100) were sown in each of 42 presalinized (pretreated) greenhouse sand tanks. Seedling emergence was monitored daily and leaf mineral concentrations (total-S, total-P, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, and Cl-) were determined three months after planting. Moderately saline irrigation water stimulates germination up to 10 dS/m, especially those that mimic water compositions of the San Joaquin Valley. Not only can seeds germinate in saline irrigation water, but seedlings also demonstrate high survival percentages and complete their life cycles under similar environmental conditions. Saline wastewaters that have an electrical conductivity up to 6 dS/m with a composition similar to that of the San Joaquin Valley are best used to produce plants with an adequate stem length with regards to industry standards. Differences in mineral uptake and composition in plant tissues between the treatments may be attributed to ion interactions and quantitative differences in ionic composition of the solutions themselves. Essential nutrients, such as Ca2+, K+, and total-P, in plant tissues tend to decline with an increase in substrate salinity concentrations whereas Cl-, Na+, Mg2+, and total-S tend to increase. Saline wastewaters may be used to produce L. perezii commercially.

Technical Abstract: Saline wastewaters may provide a valuable water source for the irrigation of selected salt tolerant floriculture crops as water quality and quantity becomes limited and as demand for quality water increases. A 2 7 factorial design with three replications was used to test the effects of water ionic composition and salinity, respectively, on emergence, survival, and mineral accumulation of the salt tolerant cut flower Limonium perezii (Stapf) F. T. Hubb cv. 'Blue Seas.' Seeds (n = 100) were sown in each of 42 presalinized greenhouse sand tanks. Irrigation water compositions represented saline drainage waters typically present in either the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) and the Imperial/Coachella Valleys (ICV) of California. Electrical conductivity levels of the treatment waters included 2.5 (control), 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, and 20 dS/m. Seedling emergence was monitored daily and leaf mineral concentrations (total-S, total-P, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, and Cl-) were determined three months after planting. A two-way ANOVA revealed that salinity had a significant effect on seedling emergence (F = 27.56; P < 0.01). Cumulative emergence showed a marked decrease above 12 dS/m for both water treatments and tended to be greater from 6 to 10 dS/m than at 2.5 dS/m. A significant interaction of salinity and water composition was found for survival (F = 2.90; P < 0.05). Survival approximated 90% in ICV and SJV treatments up to 8 and 10 dS/m, respectively, yet continued to decrease below 70% in both water treatments at 12 dS/m and higher. Differences in leaf mineral concentrations between ICV and SJV water compositions can be attributed to differences in compositions of irrigation waters. As salinity increased, leaf Ca2+, K+, and total-P decreased, whereas Mg2+, Na2+, Cl-, and total-S increased. Stem length showed a marked decrease above 2.5 and 6 dS/m in ICV and SJV treatments, respectively, with SJV waters producing ~30% more marketable flowers at salinities up to 6 dS/m. Limonium perezii may be produced commercially with moderately saline wastewaters.