Salinity Impacts Vigor of SeaDwarf Seashore Paspalum.

Irrigating turf with non-potable water conserves fresh water resources. �Advertising says SeaDwarf (SD) seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum O. Swartz) can be irrigated with brackish water with an expectation of high quality.� Research was done to determine if SD quality was affected by brackish water.� Containerized SD was flood irrigated once daily for 50 d with seven irrigation sources ranging in salinity (EC_iw) from 0.52 to 49.40 dS m^-1.� Visual quality ratings and canopy temperatures were taken during the study.� Quality parameters including lateral stem growth, leaf texture, shoot yield, and shoot chlorophyll content were evaluated at the end of the study.� Soil salinity (EC_e) and shoot tissue moisture content were also assessed. �Visual quality was acceptable except at the highest EC_iw, though salty water caused differences in all quality parameters.� The most noticeable effect was on lateral stem growth.� Increasing EC_iw from 0.52 to 10.1 dS m^-1 caused a 76% reduction in stolon number and 64% reduction in stolon length.� At or above 19.1 dS m^-1 stolon growth was inhibited.� Irrigating with salty water also resulted in finer leaf texture, reduced chlorophyll content and reduced shoot yield; it increased EC_e and canopy temperatures, and decreased shoot tissue moisture.� Observed effects likely resulted from salt-induced osmotic stress.� The impact of salinity on visual quality was nominal, but irrigating with water having lower EC_iw resulted in more vigorous SD.