Award Date

1-1-1995

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Science

Number of Pages

91

Abstract

A line source gradient study was initiated to investigate the feasibility of using the saline aquifer, existing beneath the Las Vegas valley, as an alternative irrigation source for turfgrass. Results indicated that the aquifer could be used as a supplemental irrigation source, without any diminished turfgrass quality, if total water potentials {dollar}\rm(\Psi\sb{T}){dollar} were maintained above species specific thresholds, where {dollar}\rm\Psi\sb{T}{dollar} is defined as the sum of the matric {dollar}\rm(\Psi\sb{M}){dollar} and osmotic {dollar}\rm(\Psi\sb{\Pi}){dollar} potentials. The soil water potential components {dollar}\rm(\Psi\sb{M},\Psi\sb{\Pi}){dollar} were found to additively affect yield, evapotranspiration, turf color, percent cover, and turf temperature. Leaf xylem water potential, stomatal conductance, and tissue osmolality responded to the interactive effects of {dollar}\rm\Psi\sb{M}{dollar} and {dollar}\rm\Psi\sb{\Pi}.{dollar} Water use efficiency decreased with increasing salinity in tall fescue but not in bermudagrass. Tissue ion concentrations remained unchanged with increasing {dollar}\rm\Psi\sb{T}{dollar} in bermudagrass, while all ion concentrations in tall fescue, except K, increased with increasing {dollar}\Psi\sb{\Pi}{dollar} and {dollar}\rm\Psi\sb{T}.{dollar}.

Keywords

Drought; Gradient; Increasing; Line; Physiological; Responses; Salinity; Sources; Species; Stress; Turfgrass

Controlled Subject

Botany; Agronomy; Botany

File Format

pdf

File Size

3563.52 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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