Data for Saline irrigation improves survival of forage sorghum but limits growth and increases toxicity

Data for Saline irrigation improves survival of forage sorghum but limits growth and increases toxicity

Moderately saline water has been proposed as a potential irrigation resource for crops such as forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor × Sorghum bicolor nothossp. drummondii) in drought-prone regions

Experiment 1 assessed the tolerance of forage sorghum to a range of salt treatments (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl). Plants were grown approx. 4 weeks before they were randomly allocated between treatments (N=15) Mean glasshouse temperature was 28/20 °C (day/night). Plants were organised in a randomised complete block design and watered with 250 mL (to saturation) of water or salt solution two times per week. To avoid a shock response from salinity treatments in both experiments, NaCl concentrations were increased gradually, starting at 25 mM and increasing by 25 mM each watering day until the desired concentration was reached. To prevent the accumulation of salt, pots were flushed with 250 mL once per week. The experimental treatments were maintained for a total seven weeks (including the ramp up time).

Experiment 2 assessed whether moderately saline irrigation would relieve drought stress by growing sorghum plants under three treatments. All treatments lasted seven weeks. Ten plants were randomly allocated to each of three treatment groups: 0 mM NaCl, 50 mM NaCl, and drought. Plants were organised in a randomised complete block design. Plants in the 0 mM and 50 mM NaCl treatments were watered with 250 mL (to saturation) of water or salt solution once per fortnight. The drought treatment group received no water throughout the treatment period. The experimental treatments were maintained for seven weeks.