The salt tolerance of guayule
1946
Retzer, J.L. | Mogen, C.A.
A series of studies were conducted on irrigated 1-, 2-, and 3-year-old guayule plantations in areas where salt concentrations had killed the plants or retarded their growth. The several growth conditions were correlated with differences in salt percentages as determined by the electrical conductance method on soil paste. It was found that guayule usually was killed or did not grow following transplanting where salt concentrations were 0.6% in either the first or second foot. In those cases where the shrub did survive, the growth was poor. Guayule grew well where the salt concentration did not exceed 0.3% in the 5-foot profile. Growth was increasingly retarded as the salt concentrations in the surface 2 feet increased from 0.3% to 0.6% and where the salt was 0.6% or greater in and below the third foot. As the osmotic pressures increased due to the increasing salt content and the total soil moisture stress increased the rubber percentages increased, but the shrub sizes and consequently the pounds of rubber decreased. The study included both alkaline and neutral salts. When compared to yields from soils free of salts, it is concluded that guayule production is not feasible on soils containing salts in excess of 0.3% in the 5-foot profile.
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