A Method for Evaluation of Salt Tolerance during Germination, Emergence, and Seedling Establishment¹

Abstract

Abstract Salinity is an increasing problem for irrigated agriculture, but few well‐defined methods exist for providing uniform, repeatable conditions to select plants for salt tolerance. A floodable planter box (salt box) was designed and used as a screening method for salt tolerance in alfalfa ( Medicago sariva L.). The Salt box was used to screen over 100 000 seedlings. Vigorous plants were selected after 6 weeks growth in −0.8 MPa salinity (NaCl). This system provides a method to identify salt tolerant plant, and to test selections against other populations.