Class
Article
College
College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
Department
Plants, Soils, and Climate Department
Faculty Mentor
Youping Sun
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
The Intermountain West is currently experiencing extreme drought, which escalates in severity due to warmer temperatures resulting from climate change, less predictable precipitation patterns, and rapid population growth. Additionally, landscape irrigation consumes a significant portion of portable water, for example, in Utah, landscape irrigation accounts for 50-65% of urban water demand. For water conservation, local green industries found a great alternative water for landscape irrigation, which is reclaimed water. However, the reclaimed water usually has high salt levels, which negatively impacts plants growth and survival. Penstemon is a native plant to North America, it has long-lasting bloom, colorful flowers, and attractive foliage. Many penstemon plants have evolved mechanisms such as salt exclusion and salt secretion to tolerate high-salt environments, but salinity can still contribute to low aesthetic performance. This study was conducted to evaluate the salt tolerance of two penstemon species [Penstemon davidsonii (Davidson's penstemon) and Penstemon heterophyllus (foothill penstemon)] in greenhouse conditions to develop a baseline information for nursery production and landscape use with reclaimed/recycled water irrigation. Plants were irrigated weekly with a nutrient solution at an electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.25 dS·m−1 as control and saline solutions at ECs of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, or 10.0 dS·m−1 for 8 weeks. After 4 weeks of treatment, P. davidsonii receiving saline solution at an EC of 10 dS·m−1 had an averaged visual score of 3 (0=dead and 5= excellent with no damage) whereas P. heterophyllus had a visual score of 3.4. After 8 weeks of treatments, 90% of P. davidsonii were dead under the saline water irrigation at EC of 7.5 and 10 dS·m−1 whereas P. heterophyllus could maintain its visual score above 3. The canopy temperature was relatively higher in plants receiving saline solution at ECs of 7.5 and 10 dS·m−1 compared to the plants receiving lower salt treatment. Penstemon davidsonii, receiving high salinity treatment showed comparatively less shoot dry weight which was found to be similar for P. heterophfyllus. In the current study, P. davidsonii was found to have more foliar salt damage and was less tolerant to salinity compared to Penstemon heterophyllus.
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-12-2023 1:30 PM
End Date
4-12-2023 2:30 PM
Included in
Selecting Salt Tolerant Penstemon Plants for Landscape Use
Logan, UT
The Intermountain West is currently experiencing extreme drought, which escalates in severity due to warmer temperatures resulting from climate change, less predictable precipitation patterns, and rapid population growth. Additionally, landscape irrigation consumes a significant portion of portable water, for example, in Utah, landscape irrigation accounts for 50-65% of urban water demand. For water conservation, local green industries found a great alternative water for landscape irrigation, which is reclaimed water. However, the reclaimed water usually has high salt levels, which negatively impacts plants growth and survival. Penstemon is a native plant to North America, it has long-lasting bloom, colorful flowers, and attractive foliage. Many penstemon plants have evolved mechanisms such as salt exclusion and salt secretion to tolerate high-salt environments, but salinity can still contribute to low aesthetic performance. This study was conducted to evaluate the salt tolerance of two penstemon species [Penstemon davidsonii (Davidson's penstemon) and Penstemon heterophyllus (foothill penstemon)] in greenhouse conditions to develop a baseline information for nursery production and landscape use with reclaimed/recycled water irrigation. Plants were irrigated weekly with a nutrient solution at an electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.25 dS·m−1 as control and saline solutions at ECs of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, or 10.0 dS·m−1 for 8 weeks. After 4 weeks of treatment, P. davidsonii receiving saline solution at an EC of 10 dS·m−1 had an averaged visual score of 3 (0=dead and 5= excellent with no damage) whereas P. heterophyllus had a visual score of 3.4. After 8 weeks of treatments, 90% of P. davidsonii were dead under the saline water irrigation at EC of 7.5 and 10 dS·m−1 whereas P. heterophyllus could maintain its visual score above 3. The canopy temperature was relatively higher in plants receiving saline solution at ECs of 7.5 and 10 dS·m−1 compared to the plants receiving lower salt treatment. Penstemon davidsonii, receiving high salinity treatment showed comparatively less shoot dry weight which was found to be similar for P. heterophfyllus. In the current study, P. davidsonii was found to have more foliar salt damage and was less tolerant to salinity compared to Penstemon heterophyllus.