Interactive Effects of Salinity and Primo on the Growth of Kentucky Bluegrass

Abstract

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), cv. Nu Star was studied in a greenhouse to evaluate its growth responses in terms of shoot length and dry weight under NaCl (sodium chloride) salinity and different levels of Trinexapac-ethyl( primo Max). Plants were grown hydroponically under control and one level of salinity [EC (electrical conductivity) of 5 dS/m] and three levels of primo Max (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 oz/1000 ft²), using Hoagland solution No. 1. Plant shoots (clippings) were harvested weekly, oven dried at 60 oC, and dry weights recorded. At each harvest, shoot length was measured and recorded, percent visual canopy green cover was also estimated. The results show that shoot length and shoot dry weight (DW) of Kentucky bluegrass significantly decreased with both salinity and primo treatments, although the differences in shoot length and shoot DW were not significant between primo treatments at 0.6 and 0.9 oz/1000 ft² application rates. The green coverage of the turf canopy decreased under salinity stress, and the reduction of green canopy coverage by salinity was more pronounced when turf was treated by primo, suggesting that primo significantly reduced the salt tolerance of Kentucky bluegrass. The above results were observed for both cumulative as well as the weekly growth responses.