LeeRoy Rock1, Shad Nelson1, and John L. Reilley2. (1) Texas A&M Univ, Kingsville, 700 Univ Blvd Apt. #9A, Kingsville, TX 78363, (2) USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center, 3409 North FM 1355, Kingsville, TX 78363
An estimated 600 thousand
acres of South Texas land is affected by
alkaline and saline soil conditions. Natural weathering of rocks and minerals
contribute to soil salinity, but a major cause of this has been attributed to
past oil and natural gas excavation. Onsite disposal of drilling fluids and
spills introduce high amounts of salts onto the soil surface. Typically, high
amounts of soluble salts prevent the establishment of plants native to South Texas. To
reintroduce these plants onto saline and alkaline sites both seed germination
and young seedling response to varying salinity levels requires further
investigation. This study focused on 21 native species response to saline
conditions in seed germination chambers and a controlled greenhouse. Seed germination salinity trials in NaCl were run at an EC of
0, 5, 10, 20, 30 dS m-1 at 20 and 30°C . Seedling stand
salinity tolerance was run at 0, 15, and 30 dS m-1. Results showed that for some native species a
positive relationship between increased salinity tolerance and temperature. Several native species demonstrated tolerance
to high levels of salt that may prove useful for the revegetation
and restoration of salt-affected lands.
Handout (.pdf format, 138.0 kb)