Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Crop and Pasture Science Crop and Pasture Science Society
Plant sciences, sustainable farming systems and food quality
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > CP > AR06156
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 58(3)

The response of four perennial grass species to sodium chloride salinity when irrigated with saline waters

M. E. Rogers
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

Department of Primary Industries, Private Bag, Ferguson Rd, Tatura, Vic. 3616, Australia. Email: maryjane.rogers@dpi.vic.gov.au

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58(3) 225-232 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR06156
Submitted: 11 May 2006  Accepted: 23 November 2006   Published: 16 March 2007

Abstract

The response of 4 temperate grass species (Lolium perenne cv. Victorian, Thinopyrum ponticum cv. Tyrell, Austrodanthonia richardsonii cv. Taranna, A. bipartita cv. Bunderra) to saline irrigated conditions was evaluated over 4 seasons at Tatura in northern Victoria. This experiment followed earlier research where the salt tolerance of ~20 species of grasses was evaluated in the greenhouse. Field plots were established under non-saline conditions and were irrigated with saline water at 1.6, 2.5, and 4.5 dS/m. Measurements made on these plots included dry-matter production, tissue ion (Na+, Cl–, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+) concentrations, in vitro dry-matter digestibility, root distribution, and soil chemistry. Soil salinity (EC1 : 5) and sodicity (SAR1 : 5) levels peaked at 0.30–0.60 m depth and reached 1.3 dS/m and 9.8, respectively, for the highest saline irrigation treatment. Cumulative plant dry-matter production was lower in T. ponticum compared with the Austrodanthonia species and L. perenne at all salinity levels, but in relative terms there was no difference in the salt tolerance among any of the 4 species (the reduction in dry weight at 4.5 dS/m was 10–15% for all species). Leaf tissue concentrations of Na+ and Cl– were significantly lower in A. richardsonii and A. bipartita compared with T. ponticum and L. perenne, and in vitro dry-matter digestibility tended to be greater in L. perenne under saline conditions than in the other 3 species. This research suggests that the 2 native Austrodanthonia species can be grown under moderately saline conditions—either under saline irrigation or in a dryland discharge area—in environments where perennial ryegrass may also be grown.

Additional keywords: Austrodanthonia bipartita, Austrodanthonia richardsonii, Lolium perenne, Thinopyrum ponticum, saline irrigation.


Acknowledgments

I thank Tom Russell and Chris Spokes for providing excellent technical assistance, and Dr Leigh Callinan for statistical advice. Mr Kevin Kelly, Dr Joe Jacobs, and two anonymous referees provided constructive comments on the manuscript. This research was funded by the Catchment and Water Division of the Department of Sustainability and the Environment.


References


Bleby TM, Aucote M, Kennett-Smith AK, Walker GR, Schachtman DP (1997) Seasonal water use characteristics of tall wheatgrass [Agropyron elongatum (Host) Beauv.] in a saline environment. Plant, Cell & Environment 20, 1361–1371.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Brown AJ , Rogers ME (2003) A review of field and greenhouse research on salt tolerance in temperate Australian native grasses. In ‘Sustainability and beyond. Proceedings of 3rd Stipa Conference on Management of Native Grasses and Pastures’. 27–28 November 2003, Cooma, NSW. (Eds C O’Dwyer, S Hamilton) pp. 146–160. (ILFR University of Melbourne: Dookie, Vic.)

Clarke T, Flinn PC, McGowan AA (1982) Low-cost pepsin-cellulase assays for prediction of digestibility of herbage. Grass and Forage Science 37, 147–150.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Cockcroft B , Martin FM (1981) ‘Red-brown Earths of Australia.’ (Eds JM Oades, DG Lewis, K Norrish) pp. 133–147. (Waite Agricultural Research Institute and CSIRO Division of Soils: East Melbourne, Vic.)

Elzam OE, Epstein E (1969) Salt relations of two grass species differing in salt tolerance. I. Growth and salt content at different salt concentrations. Agrochimie 13, 187–195. open url image1

Greenway H, Munns R (1980) Mechanisms of salt tolerance in nonhalophytes. Annual Review of Plant Physiology 31, 149–190.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Hannon NJ, Barber HN (1972) The mechanism of salt tolerance in naturally selected populations of grasses. Search 3, 259–260. open url image1

Huxtable CHA (2003) ‘Rehabilitation of open cut coal mines using native grasses: management guidelines.’ ISBN 0734752911. (Department of Sustainable Natural Resources: Parramatta, NSW)

Jarwal SD , Jolly ID , Kennett-Smith AK (1996) The salt-tolerant grasses puccinellia (Puccinellia spp.) and tall wheat grass (Agropyron elongatum): a literature survey of their salt tolerance, establishment, water use and productivity. Technical Memorandum 96.7, CSIRO Division of Water Resources, Adelaide, S. Aust.

Kemp DR, Dowling PM (2000) Towards sustainable temperate perennial pastures. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 125–132.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Loch DS , Lees TW (2001) Halophytic native grasses for stabilisation and rehabilitation of salt-affected sites in northern Australia. In ‘Proceedings of the 4th Australian Workshop on Native Seed Biology for Revegetation’. Mildura, Vic. (Eds SW Adkins, SM Bellairs, LC Bell) pp. 235–246. (Australian Centre for Mining Environmental Research: Brisbane, Qld)

Lodge G (2002) Wallaby grass—a domesticated native grass. AgFact P2.5.39. NSW Agriculture, Orange, NSW. www.agric.nsw.gov/reader/past-varieties/p2539.htm

Lodge GM (1993) The domestication of the native grasses Danthonia richardsonii Cashmore and Danthonia linkii Kunth for agricultural use. I. Selecting for inflorescence seed yield. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 44, 59–77.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Lodge GM (2000) Effects of sowing method and competitor species and presence on Phalaris and Austrodanthonia establishment and persistence. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 813–823.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Lodge GM, Schipp AJ (1993) Effects of depth and time of sowing on the emergence of Danthonia richardsonii Cashmore and Danthonia linkii Kunth for agricultural use. II. Agronomic and morphologic variation. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 44, 79–88.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Maas EV (1990) Crop salt tolerance. In ‘Agricultural salinity assessment and management’. (Ed. KK Tanji) pp. 262–304. (ASCE: New York)

Maas EV, Hoffman GJ (1977) Crop salt tolerance—current assessment. Journal of the Irrigation and Drainage Division 103, 115–134. open url image1

Marcum KB (1999) Salinity tolerance mechanisms of grasses in the subfamily Chloridoideae. Crop Science 39, 1153–1160. open url image1

Matters J , Bozon J (1989) ‘Spotting soil salting: a Victorian field guide to salt indicator plants.’ (Conservation, Forests and Lands, Land Protection Division: Melbourne, Vic.)

Mitchell M , Virgona J (2003) Improved management of native grass pastures in the north east, Murray, Murrumbidgee and Lachlan catchments. In ‘Sustainability and beyond. Proceedings of 3rd Stipa Conference on Management of Native Grasses and Pastures’. 27–28 November 2003, Cooma, NSW. (Eds C O’Dwyer, S Hamilton) pp. 141–145. (ILFR University of Melbourne: Dookie, Vic.)

Munns R (2005) Genes and salt tolerance: bringing them together. New Phytologist 167, 645–663.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Myers BA, Couper DI (1989) Effects of temperature and salinity on the germination of Puccinellia ciliata (Bor) cultivar Menemen. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 40, 561–572.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

National Land and Water Resources Audit (NLWRA) (2001) ‘Australian dryland salinity assessment 2000. Extent, impacts, processes, monitoring and management options.’ (National Land and Water Resources Audit: Canberra, ACT)

Nichols C (2002) Managing the spread of tall wheat grass from saline areas in a grazing enterprise. DPI Information Note Ag0912, DPI, Melbourne, Vic. www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreinf.nsf/home+page/DPI+Infoseries%7Ehome+page?open

Northcote KH , Hubble GD , Isbell RF , Thompson CH , Bettenay E (1975) ‘Description of Australian soils.’ (CSIRO: Melbourne, Vic.)

Oram RN, Edlington JP, Gardner PA (2002) Selection for resistance to salinity and waterlogging in Phalaris aquatica L. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53, 391–399.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Richards D, Goubran FH, Garwoli WN, Daly MW (1979) A machine for determining root length. Plant and Soil 52, 69–76.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Rogers AL, Bailey ET (1963) Salt tolerance trials with forage plants in south-western Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 3, 125–130.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Rogers ME (2001) The effect of saline irrigation on lucerne production: shoot and root growth, ion relations and flowering incidence in six cultivars grown in northern Victoria, Australia. Irrigation Science 20, 55–64.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Rogers ME, Craig AD, Munns R, Colmer TD, Nichols PGH , et al. (2005) The potential for developing fodder plants for the salt-affected areas of southern and eastern Australia: an overview. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 301–329.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Rogers ME, Noble CL, Nicolas ME, Halloran GM (1994) Leaf, stolon and root growth of white clover (Trifolium repens L) in response to irrigation with saline water. Irrigation Science 15, 183–194.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Rogers ME, Noble CL, Pederick RJ (1996) Identifying suitable temperate grass species for saline areas. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 36, 197–202.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Russell JS (1976) Comparative salt tolerance of some tropical and temperate legumes and tropical grasses. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 16, 103–109.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Semple WS, Cole IJ (2002) Native grasses for saline site revegetation. Stipa Newsletter 21, 6–11. open url image1

Semple WS, Cole IA, Koen TB (2003) Performance of some perennial grasses on severely salinised sites on the inland slopes of New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 43, 357–371.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Shannon MC (1970) Testing salt tolerance variability among tall wheatgrass lines. Agronomy Journal 70, 719–722. open url image1

Shannon MC (1984) Breeding, selection and the genetics of salt tolerance. In ‘Salinity tolerance in plants’. (Eds RC Staples, GH Toenniessen) pp. 231–254. (John Wiley & Sons: New York)

Skene JKM , Poutsma TJ (1962) Soils and land use in part of the Goulburn Valley, Victoria. Department of Agriculture Victoria Technical Bulletin 14, Melbourne, Vic.

Smith KF , Lee CK , Borg PT (1993) Phenotypic variability in tall wheatgrass cv. Tyrell. In ‘Proceedings of the National Conference on Land Management for Dryland Salinity Control’. Bendigo. p. 274. (Four Design, La Trobe University: Bendigo, Vic.)

Torello WA, Rice LA (1986) Effects of NaCl stress on proline and cation accumulation in salt sensitive and tolerant turfgrasses. Plant and Soil 93, 241–247.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Venables AV, Wilkins DA (1978) Salt tolerance in pasture grasses. New Phytologist 80, 613–622.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1