Salt priming improves establishment of Distichlis spicata under saline conditions

Salt priming as a tool to establish Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene cv. Yensen-4a (NyPa Forage) plants into saline conditions was investigated in sand culture. Plants were pre-treated with 3 levels of salinity ( 0, 2, and 4 g NaCl/kg sand) for 36 days and then transplanted into 4 salinity treatments of 0, 2, 4, and 8 g NaCl/kg sand. Soil electrical conductivity (EC), Na and Cl concentrations in the sand, growth initiation, tiller formation, dry matter production, and salt excretion and uptake were measured. Plants pre-treated with 4 g NaCl/kg sand produced 6-fold more dry matter than plants pre-treated with 0 and 2 g NaCl/kg sand when transplanted into sand containing 2 g NaCl/kg. Survival and tiller formation were also higher with plants that had been pre-treated with 4 g NaCl/kg sand compared with plants pre-treated with 0 and 2 g NaCl/kg, when transplanted into 2 and 4 g NaCl/ kg sand. The results suggest that salt priming improves establishment of Distichlis spicata when transplanted into low to moderate salinity conditions.