Salt and Specific Ion Effects on Germination of Four Grasses

Abstract

The effects of NaCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, NaSO4, CaSO4-2H2O, and MgSO4-7H2O at concentrations of 50, 100, 150, and 200 meq/l were studied on germination of the following range grasses: blue panicgrass (Panicum antidotale Retz.), Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees.), Wilman lovegrass (E. superba Peyr.), and weeping lovegrass (E. curvula (Schrad.) Nees.). Increasing salt concentrations decreased germination. The extent of the decrease varied with the species and the type of salt. Inhibition was greatest with Mg and least with Ca salts. When MgSO4-7H2O was used, the effect was less than the equivalent concentration of MgCl2. At equal osmotic pressures the effect of specific ions varied. Wilman and weeping lovegrasses were found to be relatively salt tolerant.