Restoring ecological function to saline–sodic soils in South Dakota with perennial grass mixtures

Revegetation of saline–sodic soils is challenging. Over 10 million hectares are intertwined with highly productive in the Northern Great Plains, 3.4 ha South Dakota. Establishing salt-tolerant perennial plants provides soil cover and remediates barren areas. Two grass mixes [Mix 1: slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus [Link] Gould ex Shinners) + beardless wildrye (Leymus triticoides [Buckley] Pilg.); Mix 2: creeping foxtail (Alopercurus arundinaceus Poir.) western (Pascopyrum smithii [Rydb.] Á. Löve) ‘AC Saltlander’ green hoffmannii K.B. Jensen & K.H. Asay)] were dormant-planted 2018 2019 along a catena high [electrical conductivity (EC1:1) = 0.39 dS m–l; 72 mg kg–1 Na+], moderate (EC1:1 1.64 343 Na+), low 3.87 1,680 Na+) productivity zones. Vegetative biomass was measured after seeding (2018, 2019) during growth (2020, 2021), compared areas seeded to maize (Zea mays L.) nonplanted area. Biomass varied year zone. Except 2018, grasses had greater zones than maize. The sodium content 2020 2021 10× (0.25 vs. 0.02%, respectively) but could be suitable for livestock feed. By 2021, similar both all zones, spread into