Development of Turf-Type Saltgrass.

Inland saltgrass (Distichlis Spicata) is indigenous to western North America where it has adapted to grow in specific niches of wet, alkaline, and saline soils, but is also found on drier and less salty sites. Inland saltgrass has values for use as a drought and salt tolerant turfgrass and for re-vegetation in areas that commonly have high salinity levels. Two breeding cycles have been completed for improving the turf quality of inland saltgrass. Seed yield increased through cycles of selection and over half the females in the second-generation elite population showed the ability to produce commercially acceptable levels of seed. Selecting for short canopy height and greater spread was effective and second-generation lines were unique from the wild types in both of these traits. The top elite lines were selected for potential vegetative variety releases and further evaluation of seed productions. More work is needed; however, there is potential to develop vegetative and seeded saltgrasses owing to the improvement through cycles of saltgrass breeding and selections.