EFFECTS OF SALINITY STRESS ON THE GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF FOUR TURFGRASS SPECIES

Salinity stress is one of the main problems in turfgrass management. This study was carried out to determine the salinity tolerance of various cool-season turfgrass cultivars (Lolium perenne "Belida", Festuca rubra commutata "Casanova", Poa protensis "Evora" and Festuca rubra trichophylla "Smyrna") by using irrigation waters with different salinity levels. The study was conducted under greenhouse conditions, planting cultivars in plastic pots filled with a mixture of soil, sand, and peat (4:1:1 by volume) as a growing substrate. Then, 6 different irrigation water sources with gradually increased salinity levels [0.54 (T0, control; well water EC value), 25 mM (T1), 50 mM (T2), 100 mM (T3), 150 mM (T4) and 200 mM (T5)] were applied to the turfgrass cultivars. During the experiment, observations and measurements were made on turfgrass quality, clipping yield, chlorophyll content, shoot and root dry weights. As a result, it was determined that Belida (Lolium perenne L.) and Smyrna (Festuca rubra trichophylla) varieties were highly tolerant to salinity stress.