Physiological response of two turfgrass species to increasing drought and salinity stress using a line source gradient

A line source gradient study was initiated to investigate the feasibility of using the saline aquifer, existing beneath the Las Vegas valley, as an alternative irrigation source for turfgrass. Results indicated that the aquifer could be used as a supplemental irrigation source, without any diminished turfgrass quality, if total water potentials {dollar}\rm(\Psi\sb{T}){dollar} were maintained above species specific thresholds, where {dollar}\rm\Psi\sb{T}{dollar} is defined as the sum of the matric {dollar}\rm(\Psi\sb{M}){dollar} and osmotic {dollar}\rm(\Psi\sb{\Pi}){dollar} potentials. The soil water potential components {dollar}\rm(\Psi\sb{M},\Psi\sb{\Pi}){dollar} were found to additively affect yield, evapotranspiration, turf color, percent cover, and turf temperature. Leaf xylem water potential, stomatal conductance, and tissue osmolality responded to the interactive effects of {dollar}\rm\Psi\sb{M}{dollar} and {dollar}\rm\Psi\sb{\Pi}.{dollar} Water use efficiency decreased with increasing salinity in tall fescue but not in bermudagrass. Tissue ion concentrations remained unchanged with increasing {dollar}\rm\Psi\sb{T}{dollar} in bermudagrass, while all ion concentrations in tall fescue, except K, increased with increasing {dollar}\Psi\sb{\Pi}{dollar} and {dollar}\rm\Psi\sb{T}.{dollar}.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biological Science

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

1995

Author dc:creator

• Dean, Dorothy E

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/579

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-1578