Response of Bedding Plants to Saline Water Irrigation (original) (raw)

Bedding plants are extensively used in urban landscapes. As high-quality water supply becomes limited in many parts of the world, the use of recycled water with high salt levels for landscape irrigation is being encouraged. Therefore, information on salt tolerance of bedding plants is of increasing importance. Two experiments were conducted, one in a 25% light exclusion shadehouse in summer (Expt. 1) and the other in a greenhouse in winter (Expt. 2). Plants were irrigated with saline solution at electrical conductivities of 0.8, 2.8, 4.0, 5.1, or 7.4 dS·m -1 created by adding NaCl, MgSO 4 , and CaCl 2 to tap water to simulate the composition of local reclaimed water. In Expt. 1, shoot dry weight (DW) at the end of the experiments was reduced in all species at 7.4 dS·m -1 compared with the control (0.8 dS·m -1 ). The magnitude of reduction varied with species and cultivars. The salinity thresholds of irrigation water in which growth reduction occurred were 4.0 dS·m -1 for angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) cultivars and ornamental pepper (Capsicum annuum) 'Calico' and 4.0 to 5.1 dS·m -1 for helenium (Helenium amarum), licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolatum), and plumbago (Plumbago auriculata). Shoot DW and growth index of ornamental pepper 'Black Pearl' and vinca (Catharanthus roseus) 'Rose' decreased linearly as salinity increased. All plants survived in Expt.

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