Greenhouse Screening of Kentucky Bluegrass Cultivars for Salinity Tolerance.

Turfgrass areas are the perfect environment to use alternative water sources; however, these sources are often high in total dissolved salts and can result in salt stress injury and poor turf quality.  The objective of this study was to use an established greenhouse screening technique to identify Kentucky bluegrass cultivars (Poa pratensis L.) with increased salinity tolerance.  A greenhouse salt chamber system was used to simulate field conditions by applying saltwater treatments using an overhead sprinkler system. Two clones of each of twenty four Kentucky bluegrass cultivars or experimental selections were established in tanks containing 100% sand.  Four different salinity concentrations were used (1, 3, 6, and 9 dS/m) to irrigate plants for a total of 10 weeks.  Plants were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications.  Percent green ratings were taken weekly while clipping weights were logged biweekly.  Root and shoot weights were taken at the end of the 10 week study.  Significant differences were observed between salinity treatments and cultivars.  Percent green ratings, clipping yields, root weights and shoot weights all showed a significant reduction with increasing salinity treatments.  Eagleton, Moonshadow, Fairfax, Cabernet, and Liberator all had the least decrease in these measurements when compared to the control plants (1dS/m) while Baron, A03-84, and A03-TB246 showed the greatest decreases.  This technique should be a useful screening tool to identify salinity tolerance in Kentucky bluegrass and other cool-season turfgrasses.