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Title: TOLERANCE OF PLANTS TO SALINITY AND TO SPECIFIC IONS

Author
item Grieve, Catherine
item WU, S. - UC DAVIS, CA, RETIRED
item GRATTAN, STEPHEN - DEP LAWR, UC DAVIS, CA
item HARVANDI, A - DEP LAWR, UC DAVIS, CA

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/30/2006
Publication Date: 1/29/2007
Citation: Grieve, C.M., Wu, S., Grattan, S.R., Harvandi, A. 2007. Tolerance of plants to salinity and to specific ions. Salt Management Guide for Landscape Irrigation with Recycled Water in Coastal Southern California. Chapter 5:1-60

Interpretive Summary: Multiple water crises are looming across this country. The long-term availability of sufficient water to meet the nation's domestic, industrial, agricultural and ecological needs is in serious doubt. Furthermore, the condition of water resources in many parts of the country is deteriorating. One of the opportunities for conserving fresh water is the reuse of degraded waters for irrigation of landscape sites. The public, however, often fails to recognize that our water security may be in jeopardy and there seems to be reluctance on the part of users to institute reuse measures. Therefore, educational programs and materials are needed that will foster a better understanding of management practices for use of recycled, generally saline, waters. Adoption of these practices will benefit communities by reducing the demand for valuable and scarce potable water supplies. This document is Chapter V in "Salt Management Guide", an educational manual intended to encourage a broader acceptance of recycled water. The manual provides information needed by landscape professionals, grounds maintenance personnel, and homeowners to evaluate suitability of recycled waters for landscape irrigation relative to plants, soil properties and irrigation application systems. The chapter gives specific recommendations for selection of ornamental tree, shrub, vine, groundcover and herbaceous species in Southern California landscapes irrigated with degraded, recycled waters.

Technical Abstract: In many communities where recycled water is available, the salinity of the water is noticeably higher than in municipal drinking waters. Landscapes designed for the successful use of recycled waters will, therefore, benefit from the inclusion of salt-tolerant trees, shrubs, vines, groundcovers, grass and herbaceous flower crops. This manuscript, Chapter V, will be included, "Salt Management Guide", a manual intended to inform the public and members of the landscape industry in Southern California about the management and utility of recycled waters. Chapter V provides specific recommendations for species selection based on plant sensitivity to waters of different qualities, documents the effects of irrigation method on quality of ornamental plants, and addresses conditions under which salt and specific ion (e. g. boron, chloride) phytotoxicity may occur. Photographs are included to illustrate injury symptoms associated with salinity and boron stress.