SALINITY TOLERANCE OF ALTAI WILD RYEGRASS AND OTHER FORAGE GRASSES

Abstract

Altai wild ryegrass (Elymus angustus Trin.) was compared with tall wheatgrass (Agropyron elongatum (Host.) Beauv.), slender wheatgrass (A. trachycaulum (Link) Malte), Russian wild ryegrass (E. junceus Fisch.), bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), and reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) for salinity tolerance under growth room conditions. Percent emergence, herbage, and root yield were assessed in soils of varying salinity (conductivities of 4–40 mmhos/cm). Emergence of Altai wild ryegrass compared favorably with Russian wild ryegrass and bromegrass but they were inferior to tall wheatgrass at high levels of salinity. Root yield of Altai wild ryegrass was greater than that of the other grasses at all levels of salinity. At low levels of salinity (conductivities of 6–14 mmhos/cm) root yield of Altai wild ryegrass exceeded that on the low saline check soil. Using herbage yield as the criterion, tall wheatgrass and Altai wild ryegrass tolerated salinity better than the other grasses. The germination–emergence phase of establishment was the most sensitive to salinity.