Tuesday, November 6, 2007
208-6

Forage Quality and Dry Matter Yield of Halophytes Irrigated with Saline-Sodic Drainage Water.

Sharon Benes, Plant Science, California State University, Fresno, 2415 E. San Ramon Ave., Fresno, CA 93740-8033 and Stephen R. Grattan, Land, Air & Water Resources, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616.

Much research has been conducted on halophyte cultivation, but under irrigation with seawater, in the hope of producing useful food, fodder, or biomass in areas of the world where freshwater supplies are limited. Relatively little research has been done on the cultivation of halophytes under irrigation with saline drainage water from the westside San Joaquin Valley (SJV) which is saline-sodic and high in trace elements. The dry matter yield and forage quality of five halophytes (Salicornia bigelovii, Atriplex lentiformis, Distichlis spicata, Spartina gracilis, and Allenrolfea occidentalis). Forage quality was measured both for non-selective cutting (similar to a haying operation) and for more selective cutting, as in a grazing system. Data for metabolizable energy, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), ash, and mineral content will be discussed.