Rice is more sensitive to salinity than previously thought

Zeng, L; Shannon, M; Roberts, S; Grattan, S

Rice is more sensitive to salinity than previously thought

Authors

Linghe Zeng
Michael C. Shannon
Stacy R. Roberts
Stephen R. Grattan

Publication Information

Hilgardia 56(6):189-198. DOI:10.3733/ca.v056n06p189. November 2002.

PDF of full article, Cite this article

Abstract

Field studies conducted by UC and under controlled greenhouse conditions by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service indicate that rice is more sensitive to salinity than current guidelines suggest. This information is particularly important to rice growers who have experienced salinity problems after holding water on fields for longer time periods to reduce pesticide loading into the Sacramento River. Our field experiments show that an average seasonal salinity of the field water in excess of 1.9 deciSiemens per meter (dS/m) can reduce grain yields; current guidelines indicate that salinity affects rice yield at or above 3.0 dS/m. Salinity had a negative impact on a number of yield components including stand establishment; panicles, tillers and spikelets per plant; floret sterility; individual grain size; and even delayed heading. The emergence and early seedling growth stages were most sensitive to salinity, as was the three-leaf to panicle-initiation stages. Irrigation management practices should be adopted to minimize salinity during these critical growth stages.

References

Ayers RS, Westcot DW. Water quality for agriculture. 1985. p.174. FAO Irrigation and Drainage paper No 20 (rev. 1). FAO United Nations, Rome, Italy.

Hanson B, Grattan SR, Fulton A. Agricultural salinity and drainage. UC DANR Pub 3375. 1999. 160p.

Khatun S, Flowers TJ. Effects of salinity on seed set in rice. Plant Cell Environ. 1995. 18:61-7. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3040.1995.tb00544.x

Khatun S., Rizzo CA, Flowers TJ. Ge-notypic variation in the effect of salinity on fertility on rice. Plant Soil. 1995. 173:239-50. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011461

Maas EV, Grattan SR, Skaggs RW, van Schilfgaarde J. Crop yields as affected by salinity. Agricultural Drainage. Agron Monogr 38. ASA, CSSA, SSA, Madison, WI. 1999. p. 55-108.

Maas EV, Hoffman GJ. Crop salt tolerance - current assessment. J Irrig Drain Div, ASCE. 1977. 103(IR2):115-34.

Pearson GA. Factors influencing salinity of submerged soils and growth of Caloro rice. Soil Sci. 1959. 87:198-206. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-195904000-00003

Shannon MC, Rhoades JD, Draper JH, et al. Assessment of salt tolerance in rice cultivars in response to salinity problems in California. Crop Sci. 1998. 38:394-8.

van Genuchten MTh, Hoffman GJ, Shainberg I, Shalhevet J. Analysis of crop salt tolerance data. Soil Salinity under Irrigation. Ecological Studies (Vol 51). 1984. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag. p. 258-71.

Zeng L, Shannon MC. Salinity effects on seedling growth and yield components of rice. Crop Sci. 2000a. 40:996-1003.

Zeng L, Shannon MC. Effects of salinity on grain yield and yield components of rice at different seedling densities. Agron J. 2000b. 92:418-23.

Zeng L, Shannon MC, Lesch SM. Timing of salinity stress affects rice growth and yield components. Agri Water Management. 2001. 48:191-206. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-3774(00)00146-3

Also in this issue:

Premating and Postmating Isolation among Populations of Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt) (Acarina: Phytoseiidae)

Research budget cuts challenge ANR

The buzz on mosquito, malaria genetic codes

Centers to combat “agro-terror”

State budget calls for 10% research cut

UC offers online course for grape pest advisors

SOD pathogen hits coast redwoods, Douglas fir

Beahrs international program trains professionals in sustainable development

Water management practices can affect salinity in rice fields

California mealybugs can spread grapevine leafroll disease

Proper harvest timing can improve returns for intermountain alfalfa