Best Management Practices for Saline and Sodic Turfgrass Soils Assessment and Reclamation

The complex issues involved in the management of saline and sodic turfgrass soils are enough to perplex even the most experienced site manager — there is no "silver bullet" amendment, treatment, or grass for salinity management. Best Management Practices for Saline and Sodic Turfgrass Soils: Assessment and Reclamation presents comprehensive scientific principles and detailed, practical management and assessment recommendations for turfgrass and landscape sites. The authors use the Best Management Practices (BMPs) concept, considered the gold-standard management approach for any individual environmental issue, since it is a whole ecosystem (holistic), science-based salinity management approach that allows all possible management options to be considered and implemented on a site-specific basis. They identify BMP strategies, including irrigation system design; irrigation scheduling and salinity leaching; chemical, physical, and biological amendments; cultivation; topdressing; soil modification; sand-capping; surface and subsurface drainage options; nutritional practices; additional cultural practices; and ongoing monitoring. The book presents emerging challenges, technology, and concepts that address integration of salinity management into comprehensive site environmental or sustainable management systems, use of halophytic turfgrasses for non-traditional purposes, integration of geospatial and geostatistical concepts and technology, and integration of new sensor technology into daily management paradigms. Outlining a holistic BMP approach, the book incorporates scientific principles and practical management recommendations and details specific salinity challenges and the logic behind each BMP strategy for salinity management, with an emphasis on actual field problems. The book is formatted for flexible use, with stand-alone chapters that include outlines for quick review of a topic for those requiring only a basic understanding as well as in-depth discussions of the science and practical aspects for those seeking a more rigorous treatment. It supplies a single source for all the information required to identify and manage diverse types of salinity stresses.

UNDERSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS OF SALT-AFFECTED SITESBasics of Salt-Affected SitesOverview and Classification of Salt-Affected SitesCausesScope of Salinity ProblemsSuccessful Salinity Management ApproachSaline SoilsOverview Of Saline Soil Problems Total Soluble Salts (Total Salinity) ProblemsIon Toxicities and Problem IonsNutrients and Ion ImbalancesManaging Saline SoilsSodic, Saline-Sodic, and Alkaline SoilsSodic Soil ProblemsSaline-Sodic SoilsAcid-Sulfate SoilsSITE ASSESSMENT BMPS FOR SALINE AND SODIC SOIL SITESSalinity Soil Tests and InterpretationBasics of Soil Sampling and TestingSalt-Affected Soil Test PackagesField Monitoring of Soil SalinityRoutine Soil Test MethodsSoil TestingSLAN Approach, Extractants, and InterpretationBCSR Approach, CEC Measurement, and InterpretationWater Extractable (SPE, Dilute) Nutrients/IonsUnderstanding the Soil Test ReportIrrigation Water Quality Tests, Interpretation, and SelectionWater Quality TestingGeneral Water Quality Characteristics Total Soluble Salts (Total Salinity) Sodium Permeability HazardSpecific Ion Impact (Root Injury; Shoot Accumulation Injury)Direct Foliage Injury And Miscellaneous ProblemsNutrientsTrace Elements Irrigation Water Selection Summary TablePlant Analysis for TurfgrassTheory and Practice of Plant Analyses SamplingSample Preparation Analysis of SampleInterpretation and Recommendations of Test ResultsAssessment for Salt Movement, Additions, and RetentionAssessing Soil Physical PropertiesDrainage Assessment for Drainage ImpedimentsSalinity Disposal OptionsRestricting Salt Additions Hydro-Geological Assessment for Protection of Surface and Ground WatersMANAGEMENT BMPS FOR SALINE AND SODIC SOILS SITESSelection of Turfgrass and Landscape PlantsPlant Genetic and Physiological Responses to Salinity Turfgrass Salinity ToleranceSalinity Tolerance MechanismsLandscape Plants and Salinity ToleranceIrrigation System Design and Maintenance for Poor Water Quality Irrigation System Distribution Efficiency is Critical on Salt-Affected SitesSystem Design Considerations for Managing Poor Quality WaterIrrigation System Distribution Uniformity (Water Audit)Sites With Poorly Designed Irrigation SystemsIrrigation Scheduling and Salinity Leaching Routine Irrigation Scheduling – BasicsFactors Affecting Salinity LeachingMaintenance Leaching and Leaching Requirement (LR)Reclamation Leaching Pulse Irrigation and Other Water Application MethodsEnhancing Effectiveness of Salt Leaching – SummarySalinity Management During EstablishmentSelection of AmendmentsOverview of Remediation Approaches in Sodic SituationsCalcium SourcesAcid Forming Materials + Lime SourceOrganic Amendments for Sodic Soil ReclamationPhytoremediationAmendment Application Options and GuidelinesAmendment Application – OverviewIrrigation Water AcidificationGypsum Requirement – Sodic Soils and Irrigation Water InjectionIrrigation Water Blending and Salt LoadsCultivation, Topdressing, and Soil ModificationSoil Physical Problems – OverviewCultivation on Saline and Sodic Soils – GuidelinesTopdressingSoil ModificationDrainage and Sand-CappingDrainage and SalinitySurface DrainageSubsurface DrainageSand-Capping Salt-Affected SitesNutritional Practices on Saline and Sodic Sites Nutrient/Ion Rich Irrigation Water – ChallengesMonitoring Nutritional Status: Proactive or ReactiveSaline Irrigation Water Nutritional ConsiderationsProducts, Labels, and RecommendationsSummaryAdditional Cultural PracticesSalinity and Associated Stresses on a SiteEnvironmental Challenges and ManagementTraffic Stresses and ManagementAdditional Amendments for Salinity ManagementGreens Management ConsiderationsBiotic Stress X Salinity InteractionsProactive Monitoring of ProgressAssessing Progress in BMP Salinity ManagementPractical Considerations for on-Going Monitoring ProgramsCriteria for Proactive MonitoringENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITYSustainable/Environmental Management SystemsSustainable Environmental ManagementComponents of a Sustainable/EMS Plan on Salt-Affected SitesCommon Sense Approach to Long Term SustainabilityNON-TRADITIONAL USE OF TURFGRASSES ON SALT-AFFECTED SITESReclamation, Drainage Water Reuse Schemes, and Halophytic Forage SitesNon-Traditional Uses of Halophytic TurfgrassesReclamation and Site AssessmentGrass Selection IssuesEstablishment Challenges and MethodsManagement Challenges and ConsiderationsReferencesIndex