Abstract
Desertification of arable lands due to urbanization, global warming, and low rainfall mandates water conservation and using low-quality/saline waters for irrigation. Use of low-quality irrigation water imposes more stress on plants which are already under stress in these regions. Thus, there is an urgent need for finding salt/drought-tolerant plants to survive under stresses. Since the native plants are growing under such conditions and are adapted to these stresses, they are the most suitable candidates for use under arid regions. If stress-tolerant native species are identified, there would be a substantial savings in inputs in using them under stressful conditions. Present studies on saltgrass (Distichlis spicata L.), a euhalophyte, have shown it to have excellent drought/salinity tolerance, making it well adapted to harsh desert conditions, with great potential for use in urban landscape and agricultural settings to combat desertification and reclaim arid saline soils. The objectives of this study were to find the most drought-tolerant saltgrass genotypes for use in arid regions, where limited water supplies coupled with saline soils result in drought/salinity stresses, for use in sustainable desert agriculture, urban landscapes, and in biologically reclaiming desert saline soils. Various saltgrass genotypes were studied to evaluate their growth responses under progressive drought stress. Though all the grasses showed a high level of drought tolerance, there was a wide range of variations observed in their stress tolerance levels. Superior stress-tolerant genotypes were identified which could be recommended for sustainable production under arid regions and combating desertification.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Enberg A, Wu L (1995) Selenium assimilation and differential response to elevated sulfate and chloride salt concentrations in two saltgrass ecotypes. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 32(2):71–178
Gessler N, Pessarakli M (2009) Growth responses and nitrogen uptake of saltgrass under salinity stress. Turfgrass landscape and urban IPM research summary 2009, cooperative extension, agricultural experiment station, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Publication AZ1487, Series P-155, pp 32–38
Gould FW (1993) Grasses of the Southwestern United States, 6th edn. The University of Arizona Press, Tucson
Kopec DM, Marcum K, Pessarakli M (2000) Collection and evaluation of diverse geographical accessions of Distichlis for turf-type growth habit, salinity and drought tolerance. Report #2, Cooperative Extension Agriculture Experiment Station Service, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, p 11
Kopec DM, Adams A, Bourn C, Gilbert JJ, Marcum K, Pessarakli M (2001a) Field performance of selected mowed Distichlis Clones, United States Golf Association (USGA) research report #3. Turfgrass landscape and urban IPM research summary 2001, Cooperative Extension Agriculture Experiment Station, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Publication AZ1246 Series P-126, pp 295–304
Kopec DM, Adams A, Bourn C, Gilbert JJ, Marcum KB, Pessarakli M (2001b) Field performance of selected mowed Distichlis Clones, United States Golf Association (USGA) research report #4. Turfgrass landscape and urban IPM research summary 2001, Cooperative Extension Agriculture Experiment Station, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Publication AZ1246 Series P-126, pp 305–312
Kopec DM, Stephen N, Brown PW, Pessarakli M (2006) Water and turfgrass in the arid southwest: water use rates of Tifway 419 bermudagrass, sea isle 1, seashore paspalum, and inland saltgrass. United States Golf Association (USGA) Green Section Record, A Publication of Turfgrass Management, November–December 2006 Issue (6):12–14
Marcum KB (1999) Salinity tolerance mechanisms of grasses in the subfamily Chloridoideae. Crop Sci 39:1153–1160
Marcum KB, Pessarakli M, Kopec DM (2005) Relative salinity tolerance of 21 turf-type desert saltgrasses compared to bermudagrass. Hort Sci 40(3):827–829, www.ashs.org
Marcum KB, Yensen NP, Leake JE (2007) Genotypic variation in salinity tolerance of Distichlis spicata turf ecotypes. Aust J Exp Agric 47(12):1506–1511
Miller DL, Smeins FE, Webb JW (1998) Response of a Texas Distichlis spicata coastal marsh following lesser snow goose herbivory. Aquat Bot 61(4):301–307
Miyamoto S, Glenn EP, Olsen MW (1996) Growth, water use and salt uptake of four halophytes irrigated with highly saline water. J Arid Environ 32(2):141–159
O’Leary JW, Glenn EP (1994) Global distribution and potential for halophytes. In: Squires VR, Ayoub AT (eds) Halophytes as a resource for livestock and for rehabilitation of degraded lands. Kluwer Acad Publ, Dordrecht, pp 7–19
Pessarakli M (2005a) Supergrass: drought-tolerant turf might be adaptable for golf course use. Golfweek’s SuperNews Magazine, 16 Nov 2005, p 21 and cover page. http://www.supernewsmag.com/news/golfweek/supernews/20051116/p21.asp?st=p21_s1.htm
Pessarakli M (2005b) Gardener’s delight: low-maintenance grass. Tucson Citizen, Arizona, Newspaper Article, 15 Sept 2005, Tucson, AZ. Gardener’s delight: low-maintenance grass. http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/
Pessarakli M (2007) Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), a potential future turfgrass species with minimum maintenance/management cultural practices. In: Pessarakli M (ed) Handbook of turfgrass management and physiology. CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, pp 603–615
Pessarakli M (2008) Nitrogen nutrition of Distichlis (Saltgrass) under normal and salinity stress conditions using 15N. Turfgrass and Environment, United States Golf Association (USGA), Bernards, p 70
Pessarakli M, Kopec DM (2005) Responses of twelve inland saltgrass accessions to salt stress. USGA Turfgrass Environ Res Online 4(20):1–5. http://turf.lib.msu.edu/tero/v02/n14.pdf
Pessarakli M, Kopec DM (2006) Interactive effects of salinity and mowing heights on the growth of various inland saltgrass clones. Turfgrass and Environment, United States Golf Association (USGA), Bernards, pp 83–84
Pessarakli M, Kopec DM (2008a) Establishment of three warm-season grasses under salinity stress. Acta HortScience, Int Soc of Hort Sci (ISHS) 783:29–37
Pessarakli M, Kopec DM (2008b) Growth response of various saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) clones to combined effects of drought and mowing heights. USGA Turfgrass Environ Res Online, 1 Jan 2008, 7(1):1–4. http://turf.lib.msu.edu/tero/v02/n14.pdf
Pessarakli M, Kopec DM (2010) Growth responses and nitrogen uptake of saltgrass (Distichlis Spicata L.), a true halophyte, under salinity stress conditions using 15N technique. In: International conference on management of soil and groundwater salinization in arid regions, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, 11–14 Jan 2010
Pessarakli M, Marcum KB (2000) Growth responses and nitrogen-15 absorption of Distichlis under sodium chloride stress. Am Soc Agron-Crop Sci Soc Am-Soil Sci Soc Am (ASA-CSSA-SSSA) annual meetings, Minneapolis, MN, 5–9 Nov 2000
Pessarakli M, Marcum KB, Kopec DM (2001a) Drought tolerance of twenty one saltgrass (Distichlis) accessions compared to bermudagrass. Turfgrass landscape and urban IPM research summary 2001, cooperative extension, agricultural experiment station, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Publication AZ1246 Series p-126, pp 65–69
Pessarakli M, Marcum KB, Kopec DM (2001b) Drought tolerance of turf-type inland saltgrasses and bermudagrass. American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America (ASA-CSSA-SSSA) annual meetings, Charlotte, NC, Agronomy Abstract, C05-pessarakli130005-P, 27 Oct–2 Nov 2001
Pessarakli M, Marcum KB, Kopec DM (2001c) Growth responses of desert saltgrass under salt stress. Turfgrass landscape and urban IPM research summary 2001, Cooperative Extension, Agricultural Experiment Station, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Publication AZ1246 Series P-126, pp 70–73
Pessarakli M, Kopec DM, Koski AJ (2003) Establishment of warm-season grasses under salinity stress. Am Soc Agron-Crop Sci Soc Am-Soil Sci Soc Am (ASA-CSSA-SSSA) annual meetings, Denver, CO, 2–6 Nov 2003
Pessarakli M, Marcum KB, Kopec DM (2005) Growth responses and nitrogen-15 absorption of desert saltgrass under salt stress. J Plant Nutr 28(8):1441–1452. www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/01904167.asp
Pessarakli M, Gessler N, Kopec DM (2008) Growth responses of saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) under sodium chloride (NaCl) salinity stress. USGA Turfgrass Environ Res Online, 15 Oct 2008, 7(20):1–7. http://turf.lib.msu.edu/tero/v02/n14.pdf
Pessarakli M, Marcum KB, Emam Y (2011) Relative drought tolerance of various desert saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) genotypes. J Food Agric Environ 9(1):474–478
Rossi AM, Brodbeck BV, Strong DR (1996) Response of xylem-feeding leafhopper to host plant species and plant quality. J Chem Ecol 22(4):653–671
SAS Institute Inc. (1991) SAS/STAT user’s guide. SAS Institute Inc., Cary
Sigua GC, Hudnall WH (1991) Gypsum and water management interactions for revegetation and productivity improvement of brackish marsh in Louisiana. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 22(15/16):1721–1739
Sowa S, Towill LE (1991) Effects of nitrous oxide on mitochondrial and cell respiration and growth in Distichlis spicata suspension cultures. Plant-Cell Tiss Org Cult (Netherlands) 27(2):197–201
White RH, Engelke MC, Morton SJ, Ruemmele BA (1992) Competitive turgor maintenance in tall fescue. Crop Sci J 32:251–256
Acknowledgments
This study was financially supported by a grant from the United States Golf Association (USGA).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Pessarakli, M., Marcum, K.B. (2013). Distichlis Spicata – A Salt- and Drought-Tolerant Plant Species with Minimum Water Requirements for Sustainable Agriculture in Desert Regions and Biological Reclamation of Desert Saline Soils. In: Shahid, S., Abdelfattah, M., Taha, F. (eds) Developments in Soil Salinity Assessment and Reclamation. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5684-7_26
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5684-7_26
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-5683-0
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-5684-7
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)