1. Salinity Demonstrations
Everything from Agriculture
Ezra Aberle
North Dakota State University
Carrington Research Extension Center
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2. Salinity Cover Crop Demo
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3. Salinity Cover Crop Demo
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4. Salinity Cover Crop Demo
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5. Salinity Cover Crop Demo
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6. Salinity Cover Crop Demo
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7. Salinity Cover Crop Demo
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8. Salinity Cover Crop Demo
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9. Salinity Cover Crop Demo
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10. Salinity Cover Crop Demo
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11. Salinity Cover Crop Demo
Sesbania is the most tolerant legume tested however seed cost prohibits extensive use
Most of the brassicas and types of beets performed similarly
The cool season grasses of barley and rye performed well
The warm season grass Siberian millet performed fairly well
With these areas we need to think about production vs. cost. With that in mind bin run barley, rape or canola, and the finger millets will provide some cover at a reasonable cost
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12. Perennial Salinity Demo
The Carrington Research Extension Center, Foster and Stutsman County SCDs,
North Dakota NRCS, and the USDA- NRCS - Plant Materials Center - Bismarck are conducting a demonstration in two locations near Carrington and one near Buchanan evaluating selected perennial grass and legume species across a salinity gradient.
Species List:
Smooth Bromegrass - Rebound
Creeping Foxtail – Garrison
Tall Wheatgrass – Alkar
Switchgrass – Forestburg
Slender Wheatgrass – Revenue
Prairie Cordgrass - Red River
Western Wheatgrass – Rodan
Prairie Cordgrass - CREC Germplasm
Canada Wild rye - Mandan
Strawberry Clover - O'Conners
Beardless Wild rye – Shoshone
Alfalfa – 12 varieties/lines
Hybrid Wheatgrass - NewHy
Green Wheatgrass - AC Saltlander
AC Saltlander Commercial Mix
Sites were mapped for EC with a Veris machine and ground truthed with laboratory testing to determine the field gradient. This information was used to determine the proper placement and orientation of demonstration across the salinity gradient prior to seeding. Plots were seed May 21st, 22nd, and June 10th Plots are 10 feet wide by 200 feet long.
Plant germination and stand establishment counts were taken across the gradient for each species. Seedlings emerged in most of the test areas however many succumbed to the harsh environment in the more saline areas.
This season the wheatgrasses provided thicker most consistent stands across the gradient from non-saline to saline soil than the other grasses tested. This may change over time.
There does not appear to be any clear differences in establishment of the alfalfas tested.
This demonstration will track salinity, stand, and forage production over several seasons to help determine the most appropriate species for various salinity levels
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13. Cover crop research at the CREC
Creeping foxtail
Canada Wildrye
Smooth Bromegrass
Meadow Bromegrass
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14. Cover crop research at the CREC
Photo courtesy of Susan Muske
Canada Wildrye
Tall Wheatgrass
BeardlessWildrye
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15. Cover crop research at the CREC
NewHy Wheatgrass
Tall Wheatgrass
Western Wheatgrass
Slender Wheatgrass
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16. Cover crop research at the CREC
Photo courtesy of Susan Muske
Switchgrass
NewHy Wheatgrass
Saltlander Forage Mix
AC Saltlander Wheatgrass
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17. Perennial Salinity Demo
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18. Perennial Salinity Demo
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19. Perennial Salinity Demo
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20. Perennial Salinity Demo
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21. Perennial Salinity Demo
Most of the wheatgrasses established similarly however yields differ in both quantity and quality
The wildryes also performed well but are more difficult to establish
The warm season grass switchgrass did not perform well
With these areas we need to think about production and cost. Determining the best fit for the producers needs based on EC’s and what their intended use is.
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22. Thank You.
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