Salinity Affects Quality Parameters of ‘SeaDwarf’ Seashore Paspalum

Abstract

Irrigating salt-tolerant grasses with nonpotable water, like salt water, conserves fresh water resources. Advertising suggests that ‘SeaDwarf’ seashore paspalum ( Paspalum vaginatum O. Swartz) is salt-tolerant and that it resists the effects of salinity on growth typically observed when irrigating other turf types with salty water. As a result, it is now being used on golf courses and home lawns in an effort to help conserve fresh water. Commensurate with the use of nonpotable irrigation, however, would be an expectation of high turf quality. This study was done to determine if the quality of ‘SeaDwarf’ seashore paspalum was affected by irrigating it with nonpotable water having high levels of salinity. Seven irrigation water sources created by blending tap water and ocean water and ranging in salinity from 0.52 to 49.40 dS·m −1 were used to flood-irrigate containerized ‘SeaDwarf’ seashore paspalum once daily for 50 consecutive days. Turf quality gradually decreased as salinity increased but improved with time except at the highest level of salinity. Effect of water source on turf quality was attributed to salinity-induced changes in quality parameters, including leaf texture, color, stolon growth, and shoot yield. The observed effect of salinity on quality parameters likely resulted from osmotic stress associated with high levels of salinity. The salt tolerance of ‘SeaDwarf’ seashore paspalum in this study was moderately good, but irrigating it with water having lower levels of salinity resulted in better quality turf.