Effects of sprigging date and sprigging rate on establishment of two saltgrass lines

Abstract Saltgrass [ Distichlis spicata var. stricta (L.) Greene], native to the western United States, is a dioecious, warm‐season halophyte. CO‐1 and AZCO‐1 are two elite inland saltgrass lines that have potential as a turfgrass and for revegetation use on saline sites. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine the effect of sprigging date, sprigging rate, and sprig storage time on the establishment of CO‐1 and AZCO‐1 in the field and (ii) to determine the accumulative growing degree day (GDD) requirements for saltgrass to establish adequate coverage (≥75%). Sprigging dates were 22 May and 19 June. Saltgrass rhizomes (sprigs) were harvested from existing field plots. Harvested saltgrass sprigs were stored in sealed plastic bags and kept in temperature below 30°C for 1 or 2 days. Sprig storage time (1 or 2 days) did not affect establishment. Saltgrass sprigged in May established adequate coverage (≥75%) by the end of September at all the rates tested (18, 27, and 54 metric t ha −1 ). For plots sprigged in June, only the high and medium sprigging rates established adequate coverage (≥75%) by the end of September. Plots sprigged in June using the low rate (18 t ha −1 ) failed to establish adequate coverage by the end of September. Regression analysis predicted that a sprigging rate of 23 t ha −1 was needed to achieve ≥75% coverage by the end of September for plots sprigged in June. The accumulated GDD to achieve adequate coverage was 1531 and 1703 for 54 and 27 t ha −1 sprigging rates, respectively.