Source: Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico)
Irrigation salt buildup will be the subject at the annual Southwest Turfgrass Association Conference from Tuesday through Friday at the Sheraton Old Town.
"Landscape irrigation in New Mexico is moving away from drinking or potable water," said Bernhard Leinauer, a turf specialist with New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service.
"The only other two sources we have are low-quality groundwater and effluent water. Both are high in salts."
The problem for homeowners and golf course managers is that many turf grasses and landscape plants used here simply can't handle that much salt, Leinauer said.
Among the best alternatives for New Mexico are so-called warm-season grasses like Bermuda and zoysia. A new prospect under study at NMSU is seashore paspalum, a salt-tolerant grass discovered on coastal golf courses in Hawaii.
The three-day meeting will also provide information about turfgrass management in New Mexico.
Registration costs $175.
Call (505) 646-5280 or visit http://turf.nmsu.edu.
