⇦ Back to Soil Resource Management Home
¶ Table 1a. Salinity Tolerance: Grasses |
|||||||
| Average root zone electrical conductivity measured in saturated paste soil extract (ECe, mmho/cm) | |||||||
| Crop1 | Rating2 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 |
| Percent relative yield compared to equivalent, non-saline conditions | |||||||
| Alkaligrass, Nuttall | T | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Alkali sacaton | T | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Bermudagrass | T | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Bluestem, Angleton | MS | 100 | 100 | 90 – 95 | 80 – 85 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 |
| Brome, mountain | MT | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 |
| Brome, smooth | MT | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 |
| Buffelgrass | MS | 100 | 100 | 90 – 95 | 80 – 85 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 |
| Canarygrass, reed | MT | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 |
| Dallisgras | MS | 100 | 100 | 90 – 95 | 80 – 85 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 |
| Fescue, tall | MT | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 – 95 | 85 – 90 |
| Foxtail, meadow | MS | 100 | 90 – 100 | 85 – 90 | 75 – 80 | 65 – 70 | 55 – 60 |
| Grama, blue | MS | 100 | 100 | 90 – 95 | 80 – 85 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 |
| Hardinggrass | MT | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 – 100 | 85 – 90 |
| Kallargrass | T | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Lovegrass | MS | 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 – 95 | 80 – 85 | 70 – 75 | 65 – 70 |
| Oat grass, tall | MS | 100 | 100 | 90 – 95 | 80 – 85 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 |
| Orchardgrass | MS | 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 – 95 | 85 | 75 – 80 | 70 – 75 |
| Panicgrass, blue | MT | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 |
| Rescuegrass | MT | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 |
| Rhodesgrass | MT | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 |
| Ryegrass | |||||||
| Italian | MT | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 |
| perennial | MT | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 – 100 |
| Saltgrass, desert | T | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Timothy | MS | 100 | 100 | 90 – 95 | 80 – 85 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 |
| Wheatgrass | |||||||
| crested (standard) | MT | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 – 100 | 95 – 95 | 90 |
| crested (Fairway) | T | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| intermediate | MT | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 |
| slender | MT | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 |
| tall | T | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| western | MT | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 |
| Wildrye | |||||||
| beardless | MT | 100 | 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 – 95 | 85 – 90 | 80 – 80 |
| Canadian | MT | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 |
| Russian | T | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
1 See Crop File 4.03.044 for botanical name and comparison of salinity tolerance ratings.
2 General salinity tolerance rating for established crops:
S = sensitive
MS = moderately sensitive
MT = moderately tolerant
T = tolerant
Note: Salt tolerance data is for established crops, unless noted. The "percent of relative yield" is the estimated yield of a crop grown at the given salinity compared to the yield of a crop grown under similar, but non-saline, conditions. This data compares results of total salinity only and does not consider effects of toxic ions, like chloride or boron. These data serve only as a guideline to relative tolerances among crops. Absolute tolerances vary, depending on climate, soil conditions, variety, and cultural practices.
The data applies to soils where chloride is the predominant anion. Soils with high gypsum (calcium sulfate) content will have an ECe of 1 to 3 mmho/cm higher than those where chloride is predominant. Plants grown on gypsiferous soils will tolerate a conductivity of about 2 mmho/cm higher than shown in the data tables, so percent relative yield percentages should be shifted two columns to the right.
¶ Table 1b. Salinity Tolerance: Grasses |
|||||||
| Average root zone electrical conductivity measured in saturated paste soil extract (ECe, mmho/cm) | |||||||
| Crop1 | Rating2 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 11.0 | 12.0 |
| Percent relative yield compared to equivalent, non-saline conditions | |||||||
| Alkaligrass, Nuttall | T | 100 | 100 | 95 – 95 | 90 – 90 | 85 – 85 | 80 – 80 |
| Alkali sacaton | T | 100 | 100 | 95 – 95 | 90 – 90 | 85 – 85 | 80 – 80 |
| Bermudagrass | T | 95 – 100 | 90 – 95 | 85 – 90 | 80 – 80 | 70 – 75 | 65 – 70 |
| Bluestem, Angleton | MS | 50 – 55 | 40 – 45 | 25 – 35 | 15 – 25 | 5 – 15 | 0 – 5 |
| Brome, mountain | MT | 80 – 85 | 75 – 80 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 | 55 – 60 | 50 – 55 |
| Brome, smooth | MT | 80 – 85 | 75 – 80 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 | 55 – 60 | 50 – 55 |
| Buffelgrass | MS | 50 – 55 | 40 – 45 | 25 – 35 | 15 – 25 | 5 – 15 | 0 – 5 |
| Canarygrass, reed | MT | 80 – 85 | 75 – 80 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 | 55 – 60 | 50 – 55 |
| Dallisgras | MS | 50 – 55 | 40 – 45 | 25 – 35 | 15 – 25 | 5 – 15 | 0 – 5 |
| Fescue, tall | MT | 80 – 85 | 75 – 80 | 70 – 75 | 65 – 70 | 60 – 65 | 55 – 60 |
| Foxtail, meadow | MS | 45 – 50 | 35 – 40 | 25 – 30 | 15 – 20 | 5 – 10 | 0 |
| Grama, blue | MS | 50 – 55 | 40 – 45 | 25 – 35 | 15 – 25 | 5 – 15 | 0 – 5 |
| Hardinggrass | MT | 80 – 85 | 70 – 75 | 65 – 70 | 55 – 60 | 50 – 55 | 40 – 45 |
| Kallargrass | T | 100 | 100 | 95 – 95 | 90 – 90 | 85 – 85 | 80 – 80 |
| Lovegrass | MS | 55 – 60 | 45 – 50 | 40 – 45 | 30 – 35 | 20 – 25 | 15 – 20 |
| Oat grass, tall | MS | 50 – 55 | 40 – 45 | 25 – 35 | 15 – 25 | 5 – 15 | 0 – 5 |
| Orchardgrass | MS | 65 – 70 | 60 – 60 | 50 – 55 | 45 – 50 | 40 – 45 | 35 – 35 |
| Panicgrass, blue | MT | 80 – 85 | 75 – 80 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 | 55 – 60 | 50 – 55 |
| Rescuegrass | MT | 80 – 85 | 75 – 80 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 | 55 – 60 | 50 – 55 |
| Rhodesgrass | MT | 80 – 85 | 75 – 80 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 | 55 – 60 | 50 – 55 |
| Ryegrass | |||||||
| Italian | MT | 80 – 85 | 75 – 80 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 | 55 – 60 | 50 – 55 |
| perennial | MT | 85 – 90 | 80 – 85 | 70 – 75 | 65 – 70 | 55 – 60 | 50 – 55 |
| Saltgrass, desert | T | 100 – 100 | 100 – 100 | 95 – 95 | 90 – 90 | 85 – 85 | 80 – 80 |
| Timothy | MS | 50 – 55 | 40 – 45 | 25 – 35 | 15 – 25 | 5 – 15 | 0 – 5 |
| Wheatgrass | |||||||
| crested (standard) | MT | 85 – 85 | 80 – 85 | 75 – 80 | 75 – 75 | 70 – 70 | 65 – 65 |
| crested (Fairway) | T | 100 – 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 – 90 | 80 – 85 | 75 – 80 | 65 – 70 |
| intermediate | MT | 80 – 85 | 75 – 80 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 | 55 – 60 | 50 – 55 |
| slender | MT | 80 – 85 | 75 – 80 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 | 55 – 60 | 50 – 55 |
| tall | T | 100 – 100 | 95 – 100 | 90 – 95 | 90 – 90 | 85 – 85 | 80 – 80 |
| western | MT | 80 – 85 | 75 – 80 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 | 55 – 60 | 50 – 55 |
| Wildrye | |||||||
| beardless | MT | 70 – 75 | 65 – 70 | 60 – 65 | 55 – 60 | 50 – 50 | 40 – 45 |
| Canadian | MT | 80 – 85 | 75 – 80 | 70 – 75 | 60 – 65 | 55 – 60 | 50 – 55 |
| Russian | T | 100 | 100 | 95 – 95 | 90 – 90 | 85 – 85 | 80 – 80 |
1 See Crop File 4.03.044 for botanical name and comparison of salinity tolerance ratings.
2 General salinity tolerance rating for established crops:
S = sensitive
MS = moderately sensitive
MT = moderately tolerant
T = tolerant
Note: Salt tolerance data is for established crops, unless noted. The "percent of relative yield" is the estimated yield of a crop grown at the given salinity compared to the yield of a crop grown under similar, but non-saline, conditions. This data compares results of total salinity only and does not consider effects of toxic ions, like chloride or boron. These data serve only as a guideline to relative tolerances among crops. Absolute tolerances vary, depending on climate, soil conditions, variety, and cultural practices.
The data applies to soils where chloride is the predominant anion. Soils with high gypsum (calcium sulfate) content will have an ECe of 1 to 3 mmho/cm higher than those where chloride is predominant. Plants grown on gypsiferous soils will tolerate a conductivity of about 2 mmho/cm higher than shown in the data tables, so percent relative yield percentages should be shifted two columns to the right.
¶ Table 1c. Salinity Tolerance: Grasses |
|||||||
| Average root zone electrical conductivity measured in saturated paste soil extract (ECe, mmho/cm) | Relative yield factors 3 | ||||||
| Crop1 | Rating2 | 13.0 | 14.0 | 15.0 | Threshold salinity, ECe (ThS) | ||
| Percent relative yield compared to equivalent, non-saline conditions | Percent yield reduction (%YR) | ||||||
| Alkaligrass, Nuttall | T | 75 | 70 | 65 | estimate |
|
|
| Alkali sacaton | T | 75 | 70 | 65 | estimate | ||
| Bermudagrass | T | 60 – 65 | 55 – 55 | 45 – 50 | 6.9 | 6.4 | |
| Bluestem, Angleton | MS | 0 | 0 | 0 | estimate | ||
| Brome, mountain | MT | 45 | 35 – 40 | 30 – 35 | estimate | ||
| Brome, smooth | MT | 45 | 35 – 40 | 30 – 35 | estimate | ||
| Buffelgrass | MS | 0 | 0 | 0 | estimate | ||
| Canarygrass, reed | MT | 45 | 35 – 40 | 30 – 35 | estimate | ||
| Dallisgras | MS | 0 | 0 | 0 | estimate | ||
| Fescue, tall | MT | 50 – 55 | 45 – 50 | 40 – 45 | 3.9 | 5.3 | |
| Foxtail, meadow | MS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 9.6 | |
| Grama, blue | MS | 0 | 0 | 0 | estimate | ||
| Hardinggrass | MT | 35 – 40 | 25 – 30 | 20 – 25 | 4.6 | 7.6 | |
| Kallargrass | T | 75 | 70 | 65 | estimate | ||
| Lovegrass | MS | 5 – 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8.4 | |
| Oat grass, tall | MS | 0 | 0 | 0 | estimate | ||
| Orchardgrass | MS | 25 – 30 | 20 – 25 | 15 – 20 | 1.5 | 6.2 | |
| Panicgrass, blue | MT | 45 | 35 – 40 | 30 – 35 | estimate | ||
| Rescuegrass | MT | 45 | 35 – 40 | 30 – 35 | estimate | ||
| Rhodesgrass | MT | 45 | 35 – 40 | 30 – 35 | estimate | ||
| Ryegrass | |||||||
| Italian | MT | 45 | 35 – 40 | 30 – 35 | estimate | ||
| perennial | MT | 40 – 45 | 35 – 40 | 25 – 30 | 5.6 | 7.6 | |
| Saltgrass, desert | T | 75 | 70 | 65 | estimate | ||
| Timothy | MS | 0 | 0 | 0 | estimate | ||
| Wheatgrass | |||||||
| crested (standard) | MT | 60 – 65 | 55 – 60 | 55 | 3.5 | 4 | |
| crested (Fairway) | T | 60 – 65 | 55 | 45 – 50 | 7.5 | 6.9 | |
| intermediate | MT | 45 | 35 – 40 | 30 – 35 | estimate | ||
| slender | MT | 45 | 35 – 40 | 30 – 35 | estimate | ||
| tall | T | 75 – 80 | 70 – 75 | 65 – 70 | 7.5 | 4.2 | |
| western | MT | 45 | 35 – 40 | 30 – 35 | estimate | ||
| Wildrye | |||||||
| beardless | MT | 35 – 40 | 30 – 35 | 25 – 30 | 2.7 | 6 | |
| Canadian | MT | 45 – 45 | 35 – 40 | 30 – 35 | estimate | ||
| Russian | T | 75 | 70 | 65 | estimate | ||
1 See Crop File 4.03.044 for botanical name and comparison of salinity tolerance ratings
2 General salinity tolerance rating: S = sensitive, MS = moderately sensitive, MT = moderately tolerant, T = tolerant
3 Relative yield ranges calculated using this formula: %RY = 100 - [(ECe - ThS) * %YR], where:
%RY = percent yield under existing salinity level, compared to equivalent, non-saline conditions
ECe = average root zone salinity
ThS = threshold salinity value where yield begins to decline
%YR = percent yield reduction for each unit of increased conductivity
Bresler, E., B.L. McNeal, and D.L. Carter. 1982. Saline and sodic soils. Springer Verlag, New York. pp. 173-179.
Maas, E.V. 1984. "Crop tolerance" in California Agriculture. Agri. Expt. Station Univ. of Calif., Berkely, Calif. Vol. 38:20-21.
Richards, L.A. (ed). 1954. Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils. USDA Agr. Handbook 60. pp. 65-67.
Tanji, K.K., ed. 1990. "Chap. 13, Crop Salt Tolerance" in Agricultural Salinity Assessment and Management. ASCE Mauals and Reports on Engineering Practice No. 71. American Society of Civil Engineers, New York. pg. 262-304.