Abstract:
A lot of salt-affected soils in the world are also affected by compaction and waterlogging
due to shallow water tables or decreased infiltration of water due to sodicity.
Waterlogging and compaction cause reduced oxygen exchange (hypoxia). Research
on the combined impacts of salinity and hypoxia on turfgrass growth is limited.
The interactive effects of salinity and oxygen availability on nine perennial ryegrass
entries (Lolium perenne L.) and one alkaligrass [Puccinellia tenuiflora (Jacq.) Parl.]
cultivar were studied. In a controlled greenhouse, grasses were subjected to 4 treatments:
control, salinity, hypoxia, and salinity + hypoxia for 12 weeks. All entries
exhibited decreased clipping yield in both salinity and hypoxia + salinity treatments
except ‘Fults’ alkaligrass.With or without hypoxia treatment, ‘Fults’ alkaligrass was
themost salt tolerant grass among all entries. In general, all perennial ryegrass entries
had better turf quality in control and hypoxia treatments than in salinity and salinity
with hypoxia treatments. All perennial ryegrass entries were more severely affected
(quality and yields) under combined hypoxia and salinity treatment compared to
salinity or hypoxia only. Plant Na+ and Cl− concentrations increased under salinity
and salinity + waterlogging treatments. The experimental entries (‘10.0824’ and
‘10.0825’) were able to maintain better turf quality than other perennial ryegrass
cultivars under salinity and the combination of hypoxia + salinity treatments.
