Crop salt tolerance
under controlled field conditions in
The Netherlands, based on trials
conducted by Salt Farm Texel
, Crop salt tolerance under controlled field conditions in The Netherlands,
based on trials conducted at Salt Farm Texel.
December 2016
Dr. Arjen de Vos
Salt Farm Texel, Den Burg, The Netherlands.
Royal Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Den Burg, The Netherlands.
Dr. Bas Bruning
Salt Farm Texel, Den Burg, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. ir. Gerrit van Straten
Professor emeritus, Systems and Control,
Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
Ir. Roland Oosterbaan
International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement,
Wageningen (Alterra-ILRI), The Netherlands. Retired.
Prof. dr. Jelte Rozema
Systems Ecology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. ir. Peter van Bodegom
Department of Conservation Biology CML,
Leiden University, The Netherlands.
2
,Table of contents
Summary........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Preface.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Background................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Classification of salinity.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Salinity and crop growth............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Open-air laboratory of Salt Farm Texel............................................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Experimental setup.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Root zone salinity............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Modelling root zone salinity................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12
Crop data................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Potato................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12
Cabbage.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Onion.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Carrot.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Lettuce............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Barley.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 14
Statistical analysis......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Results........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Root zone salinity............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Crop growth............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Discussion................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 25
Conclusions............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 29
Recommendations...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 30
References............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Appendix 1............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 34
Appendix 2............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 37
3
, Summary
Between 2012 and 2015 field trials were performed at the open-air laboratory of Salt Farm Texel in The
Netherlands. Through its unique design, reliable field trials can be conducted under highly controlled
conditions, irrigating crops with seven different salt concentrations, each replicated eight times. In this
way it is possible to evaluate the crop salt tolerance of many different species and varieties. In this report
the results of five potato varieties, seven carrot varieties, four onion varieties, three lettuce varieties, two
cabbage varieties and one barley variety are presented. Root zone salinity levels were sufficiently constant
within the season and seasonal average salinities were close to targeted values across all years. These
findings are based on actual measurements of the root zone salinity, and a simple mass-balance model
to provide insight in the inter-sample behavior. Plant yields show considerable variation at similar salinity
levels but due to the high number of repetitions the salt tolerance can be charted in a reliable way. Results
show that for some of the tested crop species, varieties exist with a larger salt tolerance than was assumed
up until now. This implies that, at least on sandy soils using drip irrigation, these varieties can be cultivated
under moderate saline conditions without loss in yield. It also opens perspectives for cultivation on
moderately saline soils anywhere in the world.
4
under controlled field conditions in
The Netherlands, based on trials
conducted by Salt Farm Texel
, Crop salt tolerance under controlled field conditions in The Netherlands,
based on trials conducted at Salt Farm Texel.
December 2016
Dr. Arjen de Vos
Salt Farm Texel, Den Burg, The Netherlands.
Royal Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Den Burg, The Netherlands.
Dr. Bas Bruning
Salt Farm Texel, Den Burg, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. ir. Gerrit van Straten
Professor emeritus, Systems and Control,
Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
Ir. Roland Oosterbaan
International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement,
Wageningen (Alterra-ILRI), The Netherlands. Retired.
Prof. dr. Jelte Rozema
Systems Ecology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. dr. ir. Peter van Bodegom
Department of Conservation Biology CML,
Leiden University, The Netherlands.
2
,Table of contents
Summary........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Preface.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Background................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Classification of salinity.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Salinity and crop growth............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Open-air laboratory of Salt Farm Texel............................................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Experimental setup.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Root zone salinity............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Modelling root zone salinity................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12
Crop data................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Potato................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12
Cabbage.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Onion.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Carrot.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Lettuce............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Barley.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 14
Statistical analysis......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Results........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Root zone salinity............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Crop growth............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Discussion................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 25
Conclusions............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 29
Recommendations...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 30
References............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Appendix 1............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 34
Appendix 2............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 37
3
, Summary
Between 2012 and 2015 field trials were performed at the open-air laboratory of Salt Farm Texel in The
Netherlands. Through its unique design, reliable field trials can be conducted under highly controlled
conditions, irrigating crops with seven different salt concentrations, each replicated eight times. In this
way it is possible to evaluate the crop salt tolerance of many different species and varieties. In this report
the results of five potato varieties, seven carrot varieties, four onion varieties, three lettuce varieties, two
cabbage varieties and one barley variety are presented. Root zone salinity levels were sufficiently constant
within the season and seasonal average salinities were close to targeted values across all years. These
findings are based on actual measurements of the root zone salinity, and a simple mass-balance model
to provide insight in the inter-sample behavior. Plant yields show considerable variation at similar salinity
levels but due to the high number of repetitions the salt tolerance can be charted in a reliable way. Results
show that for some of the tested crop species, varieties exist with a larger salt tolerance than was assumed
up until now. This implies that, at least on sandy soils using drip irrigation, these varieties can be cultivated
under moderate saline conditions without loss in yield. It also opens perspectives for cultivation on
moderately saline soils anywhere in the world.
4
