Water Reuse and Remediation Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
Assessment of Salinity and Irrigation/Drainage Practices
Development of an Integrated Methodology for Assessing and Controlling Salinity
Salinity Assessment Resources
 

Research Project: SALINITY AND TRACE ELEMENT MANAGEMENT IN IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS

Location: Water Reuse and Remediation

Title: Alkalinity Enhances B-Tolerance in Cucumber

Authors
item Smith, T. - DEP LAWR, UC DAVIS,CA
item Grieve, Catherine
item Grattan, Stephen - DEP LAWR, UC DAVIS,CA
item Poss, James
item Lauchli, Andre - DEP LAWR, UC DAVIS,CA
item Suarez, Donald
item Suarez, Donald

Submitted to: Proceedings of the International Salinity Forum
Publication Type: Proceedings/Symposium
Publication Acceptance Date: April 11, 2005
Publication Date: April 25, 2005
Reprint URL: http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/53102000/pdf_pubs/P2060.pdf
Citation: Smith, T.E., Grieve, C.M., Grattan, S.R., Poss, J.A., Lauchli, A.E., Suarez, D.L. 2005. Alkalinity enhances B-tolerance in cucumber. In: Proceedings of the International Salinity Forum, Managing Saline Soils and Water: Science, Technology, and Soil Issues. April 25-27, 2005. Riverside, CA pp:63-66.

Interpretive Summary: Reuse of saline drainage water is a management option on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of California that is necessary for reducing the volumes of saline drainage that require disposal. A potential limitation to the use of these waters for agricultural production is the extent by which boron, a naturally-occurring trace element, affects the selection, growth and yield of crops in the reuse system. Boron concentration in SJV drainage water varies widely, but in nearly all cases, far exceeds levels that would result in toxic conditions based on B-tolerance guidelines. Confounding the interpretations of salinity-boron interactions is the influence of the pH of the soil solution. An experiment was conducted in a 24-unit volumetric lysimeter system at the USDA-ARS George E. Brown Jr. Salinity Laboratory, Riverside, CA. The test crop was cucumber variety 'Seminis Turbo hybrid. Treatments were: two salinity levels, three boron concentrations, and two pH levels. Plants were harvested several times during the growing period to determine biomass production and to sample for mineral ion concentration in various plant tissues. Preliminary information indicates that plant response to treatments was influenced most by the interactive effects of boron and pH. Under slightly acidic conditions, increased B had a much more dramatic reduction in plant biomass and yield than did the same increase under slightly alkaline conditions.

Technical Abstract: Reuse of saline drainage water is a management option on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of California that is necessary for reducing the volumes of saline drainage that require disposal. A potential limitation to the use of these waters for agricultural production is the extent by which boron, a naturally-occurring trace element, affects the selection, growth and yield of crops in the reuse system. Boron is a concern for several reasons. First, boron is a microelement that is essential for crops, but has a small concentration window between deficiency and toxicity. Second, it has a higher affinity to soil than most common salts and requires much more water to reduce soil B than it does to reduce the salinity. Furthermore, the B concentration in SJV drainage water varies widely, but in nearly all cases, far exceeds levels that would result in toxic conditions based on B-tolerance guidelines. Confounding the interpretations of salinity-boron interactions is the influence of the pH of the soil solution. Substrate pH is known to affect B availability in soils and boron-ion relations in soils and plants. An experiment was conducted in a 24-unit volumetric lysimeter system at the USDA-ARS George E. Brown Jr. Salinity Laboratory, Riverside, CA. The test crop was cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. variety 'Seminis Turbo hybrid). Treatments were: two salinity levels (3 and 8 dS/m), three boron concentrations (0.7, 5, and 8 mg/L) and two pH levels (6.5 and 8). Plants were harvested several times during the growing period to determine biomass production and to sample for mineral ion concentration in various plant tissues. Preliminary information indicates that plant response to treatments was influenced most by the interactive effects of boron and pH. Under slightly acidic conditions, increased B had a much more dramatic reduction in plant biomass and yield than did the same increase under slightly alkaline conditions.

   

 
Project Team
Grieve, Catherine
Wilson, Clyde
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Water Resource Management (201)
  Crop Production (305)
 
 
Last Modified: 05/12/2009
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House