Salt Tolerance Of Floriculture Crops

Abstract

The cut flower industry is an economically important industry in the United States, especially in the state of California. Growers have traditionally used the highest quality water to irrigate cut flower crops, but the need for alternative water sources for irrigation is increasing given the rising demand for quality water due to population growth and agronomic use. The reuse of saline wastewaters provides a viable option for the irrigation of salt tolerant floral crops. Investigations into the salinity tolerance of cut flowers have been initiated at the U. S. Salinity Laboratory to determine marketability based on stem length. Cultivars of Celosia, statice, stock, and sunflower were exposed to differing water ionic compositions and salinity levels. Most were found to be marketable at moderate salinities even though plant height tended to decline as salinity increased. Cultivars also showed differing responses based on the composition of ionic water treatments. Saline wastewaters and ground waters provide an alternative source for irrigation to produce marketable cut flower crops.