Root growth, architecture, and ion uptake of alfalfa and triticale irrigated with brackish groundwater and reverse osmosis concentrate

Soil salinity is a major environmental constraint for agricultural production, especially in arid and semiarid regions of the world. Salts irrigation water soil can potentially harm plant root growth. To date, more research has been devoted to aboveground biomass production. This study aimed at determining impacts irrigating with brackish groundwater (BGW) reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate on shoot biomass, root/shoot ratio (R:S), system architecture (RSA) alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) triticale (× Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus). Two replicated experiments were conducted Fabian Garcia Science Center (FGSC) greenhouse from 7 Oct. 2017 Jan. 2018 Las Cruces, NM, USA. After 90 d, roots scanned using WinRHIZO image analysis data analyzed. In both species, RO BGW + NaCl increased Na+ Cl– concentrations. Triticale behaved like Na-retaining species than but an associated decrease total biomass. Irrigation length number forks crossings, whereas density (RLD). Unlike alfalfa, architectural parameters largely unaffected by salinity. However, waters promoted significantly (p ≤ .05) higher control alone. Our findings recommend irrigation, as potential future forage crop dry saline conditions.