Influence of High Salt Levels on the Germination and Growth of Five Potentially Utilizable Plants for Median Turfing in Northern Climates

Abstract

We evaluated the germination and growth of Coronilla varia (crown vetch), Lotus corniculatus (birdsfoot trefoil), Medicago lupulina (black medic), Kochia scoparia (kochia) and Polygonum aviculare (prostrate knotweed) at different NaCl concentrations. No reduction of germination was observed in the five species studied for all concentrations of NaCl. High concentrations of NaCl in the soil adversely affected the growth of L. corniculatus and M. lupulina, but not of the other species. For P. aviculare, germination and growth was better with higher salt concentrations.