Morphological and Physiological Responses of <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> and <i>Pennisetum alopecuroides</i> to Saline Water Irrigation
Reclaimed water provides a sustainable and economical alternative for landscape irrigation, but its elevated salinity can negatively impact sensitive plant species. This study evaluated the salinity tolerance of two widely used ornamental grasses, <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> (lemon grass)...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Horticulturae |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/6/670 |
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| Summary: | Reclaimed water provides a sustainable and economical alternative for landscape irrigation, but its elevated salinity can negatively impact sensitive plant species. This study evaluated the salinity tolerance of two widely used ornamental grasses, <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> (lemon grass) and <i>Pennisetum alopecuroides</i> (fountain grass), under three electrical conductivity (EC) levels: 1.2 (control), 5.0, and 10.0 dS·m<sup>−1</sup>. Visual assessments over 62 days showed that both species maintained an acceptable appearance under saline conditions. <i>C. citratus</i> exhibited no foliar damage, with visual scores above 4.6 even at 10.0 dS·m<sup>−1</sup>, whereas <i>P. alopecuroides</i> showed slight leaf injury but retained a score of 3.9 or higher. Growth parameters, such as plant height, leaf area, and shoot dry weight, decreased significantly in <i>C. citratus</i> with increasing salinity, particularly at 10.0 dS·m<sup>−1</sup>, where reductions reached up to 51.1%. In contrast, <i>P. alopecuroides</i> maintained stable growth indices under salt stress, although leaf area and tiller number were notably affected at high EC levels. Both species accumulated substantial amounts of sodium (Na<sup>+</sup>) and chloride (Cl<sup>−</sup>); <i>C. citratus</i> showed more pronounced ion accumulation than <i>P. alopecuroides</i>. These findings suggest that both grasses are suitable for landscaping in saline environments, although they employ different physiological strategies to cope with salt stress. |
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| ISSN: | 2311-7524 |