Germination and Growth of Panicum virgatum Cultivars in a NaCl Gradient

Abstract

Increased levels of soil salinity are common in the plains of North America, frequently the result of agricultural practices. The use of Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass) is common in grassland restorationas well as a biofuel crop, both of which are typically performed on former agricultural lands. Knowledge of germination and growth are thus critical for successful establishment of switchgrass especially in saline soils, still fundamental knowledge is lacking. In this study we used a NaCl gradient to determine the effects of increasing salinity on germination and growth of four cultivars of switchgrass (Trailblazer, Cave-in-Rock, Blackwell, and Kanlow). Two-way analysis of variance indicated a significant (p{\thinspace}