Evaluation of bermuda and paspalum grass types for urban landscapes under saline water irrigation

ABSTRACT

In the arid regions, turfgrass cover is an integral part of landscape to protect the soil from erosion, enhance the aesthetic value, and improve the microclimate. The salinity and the scarcity of fresh water of the arid region are the major challenging factors in turfgrass production. Therefore, the need for salt tolerant turfgrass with functional quality is necessary to improve the turf performance. The detrimental effects of salinity include growth suppression, and lowered osmotic potential ultimately leading to firing of the leaf blades. In this context, the study was undertaken to determine the relative salt tolerance and growth response of turfgrass genotypes in order to recommend turfgrass cultivars that can tolerate high salinity irrigation and maintain excellent visual and functional qualities under United Arab Emirates (UAE) condition. The paspalum cultivars maintained the highest succulence percentage compared to the bermudagrass cultivars under enhanced salinity levels. The shoots count, fresh weight (FW), and dry weight (DW) were found highest in paspalum types. The chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and the total chlorophyll content was found higher in bermuda grass types under high salinity levels. The bermudagrass cultivars showed significantly higher carotenoids, anthocyanins and proline compared to the paspalum types under salt stress condition. In the case of princess 77 and Yukon, an inherently high amount of proline was recorded which confirmed an increase up to 10,000 ppm and drastically declined beyond this concentration. Sea Dwarf paspalum and Sea Isle 2000 maintained uniformity in the proline level at all levels of salinity without significant variation. These findings point to the fact that both paspalum and bermuda types exhibited varied responses to different physiological and biochemical parameters under the saline conditions. Paspalum types have an edge over the bermudagrass in terms of shoot density, which is a potential factor in determining the high-quality turfs. Bermudagrass types can be applied in lower salinity conditions based on the responses as evidenced from the present results.

KEYWORDS:

• physiological and biochemical analyses
• salinity
• turfgrass

Acknowledgments

The financial support received from Emirates Foundation to utilize for the Master of Science (MS) research of Issa Yar Mohammad Karimi is greatly acknowledged. The authors wish to acknowledge the allotment of the field space and greenhouse facilities at ZIAEP, Nashella and the laboratory facilities at the College of Food and Agriculture, UAEU. The laboratory assistance received from Abou Messallam Azab, Horticulture Lab is greatly appreciated.

Competing interests

“The authors (Issa Yar Mohammad Karimi, Shyam S. Kurup, Mohammed Abdul Mohsen Ali Salem, Abdul Jaleel Cheruth, Fayas Thayale Purayil, Sreeramanan Subramaniam, and Mohammad Pessarakli) declare that they have no competing interests.”