Relative Salt Tolerance of Herbaceous Crops

Maas (1990) (a)

- Fiber, Grain, and Special Crops -

Common Name Botanical Name (b) Threshold dS/m (c) Slope % per dS/m Rating (d)
Artichoke,Jerusalem (Tabers) Helianthus tuberosus 0.4 9.6 MS
Barley (e) Hordeum vulgare 8.0 5.0 T
Bean Phaseolus vulgaris 1.0 19.0 S
Broadbean Vicia Faba 1.6 9.6 MS
Corn (f) Zea mays 1.7 12.0 MS
Cotton Gossypium hirsutum 7.7 5.2 T
Cowpea Vigna unguiculata 4.9 12.0 MT
Flax Linum usitatissimum 1.7 12.0 MS
Guar Cyamopsis tetragonoloba 8.8 17.0 T
Kenaf Hibiscus cannabinus 8.1 -- MT
Millet,foxtail Setaria italica -- -- MS
Oats Avena sativa -- -- MT*
Peanut Arachis hypogaea 3.2 29.0 MS
Rice,paddy Oryza sativa 3.0 (g) 12.0 (g) S
Rye Secale cereale 11.4 10.8 T
Safflower Carthamus tinctorius -- -- MT
Sesame (m) Sesamum indicum -- -- S
Sorghum Sorghum bicolor 6.8 16.0 MT
Soybean Glycine max 5.0 20.0 MT
Sugarbeet (h) Beta vulgaris 7.0 5.9 T
Sugarcane Saccharum officinarum 1.7 5.9 MS
Sunflower Helianthus annuus -- -- MS*
Triticale X Triticosecale 6.1 2.5 T
Wheat Triticum aestivum 6.0 7.1 MT
Wheat (semidwarf) (i) T. aestivum 8.6 3.0 T
Wheat, Durum T. turgidum 5.9 3.8 T

Salinity Ratings codes

Salinity Ratings refer to the level of salt tolerance: M = moderate; T = tolerant; S = sensitive; MS = moderately sensitive; MT = moderately tolerant

Notes:

(a) These data serve only a guideline to relative tolerances among crops. Absolute tolerances vary, depending upon climate, soil conditions, and cultural practices.
(b) Botanical and common names follow the convention of Hortus Third (Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium Staff, 1976) where possible.
(c) In gypsiferous soils, plants will tolerate ECe about 2 dS/m higher than indicated.
(d) Ratings with a * are estimates.
(e) Less tolerant during seedling stage, ECe at this stage should not exceed 4 or 5 dS/m.
(f) Grain and forage yields of DeKalb XL-75 grown on an organic muck soil decreased about 26% per dS/m above a threshold of 1.9 dS/m.
(g) Paddy rice is grown under flooded conditions, thus electrical conductivity of the soil water refers to the plants while submerged. Less tolerant during seedling stage.
(h) Sensitive during germination and emergence, ECe should not exceed 3 dS/m.
(i) Data from one cultivar, "Probred".
(j) Average of serveral varieties. Suwannee and Coastal are about 20% more tolerant, and common and Greenfield are about 20% less tolerant than the average.
(k) Average for Boer, Wilman, Sand, and Weeping cultivars. Lehmann seems about 50% more tolerant.
(l) Broadleaf birdsfoot trefoil seems less tolerant than narrowleaf.
(m) Sesame cultivars, Sesaco 7 and 8, may be more tolerant than indicated by the S rating.