Relative Salt Tolerance of Herbaceous Crops

Maas (1990) (a)

- Vegetables and Fruit Crops -

Common Name Botanical Name (b) Threshold dS/m (c) Slope % per dS/m Rating (d)
Artichoke Cynara scolymus -- -- MT*
Asparagus Asparagus officinalis 4.1 2.0 T
Bean Phaseolus vulgaris 1.0 19.0 S
Bean, mung Vigna radiata 1.8 20.7 S
Beet, red (h) Beta Vulgaris 4.0 9.0 MT
Broccoli Brassica oleracea botrytis 2.8 9.2 MS
Brussel Sprouts B. oleracea gemmifera -- -- MS*
Cabbage B. oleracea capitata 1.8 9.7 MS
Carrot Daucus carota 1.0 14.0 S
Cauliflower Brassica oleracea botrytis -- -- MS*
Celery Apium graveolens 1.8 6.2 MS
Corn, sweet Zea mays 1.7 12.0 MS
Cucumber Cucumis sativus 2.5 13.0 MS
Eggplant Solanum Melongena esculentum 1.1 6.9 MS
Kale Brassica oleracea acephala -- -- MS*
Kohlrabi B. oleracea gongylode -- -- MS*
Lettuce Lactuca sativa 1.3 13.0 MS
Muskmelon Cucumis Melo -- -- MS
Okra Abelmoschus esculentus -- -- S
Onion Allium Cepa 1.2 16.0 S
Parsnip Pastinaca sativa -- -- S*
Pea Pisum sativum -- -- S*
Pepper Capsicum annuum 1.5 14.0 MS
Potato Solanum tuberosum 1.7 12.0 MS
Pumpkin Cucurbita Pepo Pepo -- -- MS*
Radish Raphanus sativus 1.2 13.0 MS
Spinach Spinacia oleracea 2.0 7.6 MS
Squash, scallop Cucurbita Pepo Melopepo 3.2 16.0 MS
Squash, zucchini C. Pepo Melopepo 4.7 9.4 MT
Strawberry Fragaria sp. 1 33 S
Sweet potato Ipomoea Batatas 1.5 11 MS
Tomato Lycopersicon Lycopersicum 2.5 9.9 MS
Tomato, cherry L. esculentum var cerasiforme 1.7 9.1 MS
Turnip Brassica Rapa 0.9 9 MS
Watermelon Citrullus lanatus -- -- MS*

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.