Effect of Saline Irrigation Water on Tree Growth

Starting and maintaining windbreaks are especially important in arid and semiarid agricultural areas. To evaluate which of several species of trees might be most appropriate for windbreaks in various environments, a factorial block experiment using three types of soil, five different qualities of irrigation water, and three common species of windbreak tree seedlings for arid climates was conducted to measure the effects of soil type and water quality on tree survival and growth. The three species of trees were used: prosopis, Prosopis juliflora; eucalyptus, Eucalyptus camaldulensis; and casuarina (sometimes called horsetail beefwood), Casuarina equisetifolia. The results showed prosopis to be the most salt-tolerant. The best soil for saline irrigation water depended on the species of tree, but for prosopis, the sandy soil proved more desirable. If leaching were applied, sandy soils would probably be better in all circumstances. Prosopis survived, though did not grow well, with water up to 8,600 parts per million of total dissolved solids.