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Title: PRODUCTIVITY OF TWO LIMONIUM SPECIES IRRIGATED WITH SALINE WASTEWATERS

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

Submitted to: Proceedings American Society of Horticultural Sciences
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/28/2004
Publication Date: 7/1/2004
Citation: Grieve, C.M., Carter, C.T., Poss, J.A. 2004. Productivity of two limonium species irrigated with saline wastewaters. Proceedings American Society of Horticultural Sciences. 39(4):767.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Saline wastewaters may provide a valuable water source for the irrigation of selected floriculture crops as water quality and quantity becomes limited and as demand for quality water increases. A completely randomized design with three replications was used to test the effects of salinity on productivity and mineral accumulation on each of two Limonium species grown in greenhouse sand tanks. Three-week-old seedlings (n = 15) of Limonium perezii (Stapf) F. T. Hubb cv. 'Blue Seas' and L. sinuatum (L.) Mill cv. 'American Beauty' were exposed to seven salinity treatments (2.5 (control), 7, 11, 15, 20, 25, and 30 dS m/1) prepared to simulate saline drainage waters of the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) in California. After ten weeks, vegetative material from five plants from each tank was harvested to assess mineral composition (total-S, total-P, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, and Cl -), for each variety. Ion selectivity coefficients were calculated by dividing the ratio of specific ions in the plant by those found in the medium. Stem length and weight, and flower stem numbers were determined at harvest. Salt tolerance thresholds based on stem length for L. perezii and L. sinuatum were 2.5 and 7.0 dS m/1, respectively. Maximum growth of both species declined as salinity increased, but both species were able to complete their life cycles at 30 dS m/1. L. sinuatum had higher leaf concentrations of Na+, K+, Mg2+, Cl-, and total-P than L. perezii . Potassium was preferentially accumulated with regard to Na+ by both species, but was significantly higher in L. sinuatum. Limonium perezii and L. sinuatum can be rated as sensitive and moderately salt tolerant plants, respectively.