Effect of Sodium Chloride-induced Salinity on Phyto-availability and Speciation of Cd in Soil Solution

A greenhouse experiment with two levels of Cd (0.5 and 10 mg Cd kg^?1, in the form of CdCl₂), and five salinity levels of irrigation water (0, 8.6, 17.1, 34.2 and 68.4 mM NaCl) in triplicate was conducted to determine the effect of NaCl-induced salinity on the solubility and availability of Cd in clay loam and sandy calcareous soils. Corn seeds (Zea mays L.) were sown in pots. Forty-five days after planting, the shoots were harvested, and their Cd concentration was determined. The post-harvest electrical conductivity (EC_e), pH, and concentrations of cations and anions were determined in soil saturation paste extracts. Increasing irrigation water salinity resulted in significant increases in the total soluble Cd concentration in both studied soils. A positive correlation was found between the total soluble Cd and the chloride concentration in the soil solution.Solution speciation, calculated with MINEQL+ (a chemical equilibrium modeling system), predicted that Cd was present mainly as free Cd²⁺ ions followed by CdCl⁺ and $ {\text{CdSO}}^{0}_{4} $ in the soils irrigated with deionized water. However, Cd species in the soil solution were significantly altered by increasing chloride concentration, with Cd–chloro complexes becoming the dominant Cd species in the soil solution. Increasing the salinity level resulted in significant decreases in the shoot dry matter and increases in the shoot Cd concentration. Shoot Cd concentration was positively correlated with both the total Cd and Cd–chloro complexes in the soil solution.     

Effects of saline water irrigation and fertilization regimes on soil microbial metabolic activity

Purpose

Irrigation and fertilization can change soil environment, which thereby influence soil microbial metabolic activity (MMA). How to alleviate the adverse effects by taking judicious saline water irrigation and fertilization regimes is mainly concerned in this research.

Materials and methods

Here, we conducted a field orthogonal designed test under different saline water irrigation amount, water salinity, and nitrogen fertilizer application. The metabolic profiles of soil microbial communities were analyzed by using the Biolog method.

Results and discussion

The results demonstrated that irrigation amount and fertilizer application could significantly change MMA while irrigation water salinity had no significant effect on it. Medium irrigation amount (30 mm), least (50 kg ha^?1) or medium (350 kg ha^?1) N fertilizer application, and whatever irrigation water salinity could obtain the optimal MMA. Different utilization rates of carbohydrates, amino acids, carboxylic acids, and polymers by soil microbial communities caused the differences of the effects, and D-galactonic acid γ-lactone, L-arginine, L-asparagine, D-glucosaminic acid, Tween 80, L-threonine, and D-galacturonic acid were the indicator for distinguishing the effects.

Conclusions

The results presented here demonstrated that by regulating irrigation water amount and fertilizer application, the effects of irrigation salinity on MMA could be alleviated, which offered an efficient approach for guiding saline water irrigation.

     

灌溉水质对土壤化学特征和作物生长的影响

本文以灌溉水矿化度和钠吸附比为两个主要指标，组合成１６个灌溉水质处理，研究了不同灌溉水质对土壤化学性质和作物生长的影响。初步提出了引起盐害和碱害的灌溉水矿化度和钠吸附比的临界值。研究结果表明，灌溉水带入土壤的盐分在土壤中累积与淋洗交替进行。     

Salinity and sodicity induced changes in dispersible clay and saturated hydraulic conductivity in sulfatic soils

Abstract

Irrigation is becoming a more commonly used practice on glacially derived soils of the Northern Great Plains. Threshold salinity and sodicity water quality criteria for soil‐water compatibility in these sulfatic soils are not well defined. This study was conducted to relate soil salinity and sodicity to clay dispersion and saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) in four representative soils. Soil salinity (EC treatment levels of 0.1 and 0.4 S m^‐1) and sodicity (SAR treatment levels of 3, 9, and 15) levels were established to produce a range of conditions similar to those that might be found under irrigation. The response of each soil to changes in salinity and sodicity was unique. In general, as sodicity increased clay dispersion also increase, but the magnitude of the increase varied among the soils. In two of the soils, clay dispersion across a range of sodicity levels was lower under the 0.4 S m^‐1 treatment than under the 0.1 S m^‐1 treatment and in the other two soils, clay dispersion across a range of sodicity levels was similar between the two salinity treatments. Changes in K_sat were greatest in the finer textured soil (decreasing an order of magnitude across the range of sodicity levels), but was unchanged in the coarse textured soils. Results suggest that these sulfatic soils are more susceptible to sodicity induced deterioration than chloridic soils. These results and earlier field observations suggest that sustainable irrigation may be limited to sites with a water source having a SAR <5 and an EC not exceeding 0.3 S m^‐1 for these sulfatic glacially derived soils.     

灌溉对土壤硝态氮淋吸效应影响的研究

在陕北米脂县无定河谷地沙壤质土壤上进行了灌水量对土壤硝态氮的淋失和作物吸收效应影响的研究( 简称淋吸效应) 。结果表明,灌水量在0～4000m3/hm2范围内,与玉米产量和玉米吸N 量之间的关系均呈线性相关。土壤剖面中NO3--N 遗留量主要集中分布在0 ～60cm土层内,出现的高峰在40cm ;在0 ～80cm 土层内的NO3--N 遗留量随灌水量的增加而降低;80 ～320cm 土层内的NO3--N 与灌水量之间无明显相关,320 ～400cm 土层内NO3--N 是随灌水量的增加而增高。不同深度的土壤剖面中NO3--N 遗留量与灌水量之间均呈双曲线相关;氮素损失率以未灌溉和灌水量4000m3/hm2处理的为最低,据此提出了土壤NO3--N 淋吸效应的概念。     

约旦河谷土壤含盐量变化对其灌溉农业可持续发展的潜在危害研究

The integrated effect of irrigation and agricultural practices on soil salinity in the Jordan Valley （JV）, where over 60% of Jordan’s agricultural produce is grown, was investigated in this study during 2009-2010. Due to the differences in agricultural operations, cropping patterns, irrigation management, and weather conditions, 206 top- and sub-soil samples were taken every 1 to 3 km from representative farms along a north-south （N-S） transect with 1 to 2 km lateral extents. Soil electrical conductivity of saturated extract (EC_se), Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cl, and Na adsorption ratio （SAR） were determined in saturated paste extracts. Results indicated that about 63% of soils in the JV are indeed saline, out of which almost 46% are moderately to strongly saline. Along the N-S transect of the JV, EC_se increased from 4.5 to 14.1 dS m^-1 in top-soil samples. Similar increase was observed for the sub-soil samples. The major chemical components of soil salinity; i.e., Ca, Mg, and Cl, also showed a similar increase along the N-S transect of the valley. Moreover, compared to previous field sampling, results showed that changes in soil salinity in the JV were dramatic. In addition, it was found that Cl imposed an existing and potential threat to sensitive crops in 60% of the soils in the JV, where Cl concentrations were greater than 710 mg L^-1. Under the prevalent arid Mediterranean conditions, improving the management of irrigation water, crops, and nutrient inputs and increasing water and fertilizer use efficiencies should be indispensable to conserve and sustain the already fragile agricultural soils in the JV.     

Effect of salt stress on photosynthesis and related physiological characteristics of Lycium ruthenicum Murr

Halophytes could withstand the hyper-salinity soil and survive widely in areas where soil salt content is high because they can endure salt stress to a certain extent. Lycium ruthenicum Murr (LRM), with significant nutritional and medicinal values, is one of the most important native halophytes in the arid oasis-desert transition zone of northwestern China. In recent years, artificially planting LRM has been being popular since it can improve saline-alkalized soil and increase the income of local farmers as well. More efforts about the artificial planting of LRM are put in enhancing the productivity and quality, but survivorship of LRM seedling by appropriate saline irrigation is still unclear in arid areas. A field experiment was conducted to explore the responses of LRM to four levels of saline water irrigation (Ec of irrigation water: 2.00?μs?cm^?1 (T₁), 4.51?μs?cm^?1 (T₂), 6.89?μs?cm^?1 (T₃), and 9.00?μs?cm^?1 (T₄)) during the growing seasons in 2014 and 2015. The average soil electrical conductivity (Ec_a) in 0–60 cm depth increased while the biomass of LRM decreased with increasing Ec of irrigation water, and the differences of Ec_a among treatments decreased with increasing salinity level. In contrast to previous research findings, salt stress had more significant effect on photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence of LRM, in which great changes were caused by a threshold following the increased salinity. Most of the light energy absorbed by LRM was used for photosynthesis and heat dissipation when soil salinity was low, what was used for chlorophyll fluorescence when soil salinity was high. The results of the experiment indicate that T₂ was the most suitable irrigation method for artificially planting LRM in the field, and it’s the key to save freshwater resources in arid areas and improve the production of saline-alkali land.     

The Effect of Moderate Salinity on Nitrate Leaching from Bermudagrass Turf: A Lysimeter Study

A column lysimeter study was conducted under greenhouse conditions to determine the impact of moderately saline irrigation water on NO₃ leaching from turfgrass. Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. ‘NuMex Sahara’) was fertilized at three N levels (25, 50 and 75 kg NH₄NO₃-N ha^?1 month^?1) and irrigated with saline water (0, 3.0 and 6.0 dS m^?1) in a factorial arrangement. Leachate was analyzed for salinity and NO₃, and clippings were collected and analyzed for total N. Nitrate leaching was not affected by either N level or salinity. Nitrate concentrations in the leachate were low, averaging approximately 0.3 mg N L^?1; less than 1% of the applied N leached. Longer-term N allocation to leaf growth accounted for up to 98% of applied N, whereas short-term allocation, determined using ¹⁵N, ranged from 46–67%. Salinity had no affect on clipping yield, the biomass of root and verdure, or root distribution. These data indicate the potential for moderately saline irrigation water to be used on bermudagrass turf without increasing NO₃ contamination of groundwater, as long as leaching is adequate to prevent rootzone salinity reaching damaging levels.     

TREATED EFFLUENT AND SALINE WATER IRRIGATION INFLUENCES SOIL PROPERTIES,YIELD, WATER PRODUCTIVITY AND SODIUM CONTENT OF SNOW PEAS AND CELERY

To determine the effects of irrigation water quality, plants were irrigated with normal potable water [0.25 dS m^?1 electrical conductivity (EC), 25 mg L^?1 sodium (Na), 55 mg L^?1 chloride (Cl)], treated effluent (0.94 dS m^?1 EC, 122 mg L^?1 Na, 143 mg L^?1 Cl) and saline water with low salinity (1.24 dS m^?1 EC, 144 mg L^?1 Na and 358 mg L^?1 Cl) and high salinity (2.19 dS m^?1 EC, 264 mg L ^?1Na and 662 mg L^?1 Cl) for snow peas, and high salinity (3.07 dS m^?1 EC, 383 mg L^?1 Na and 965 mg L^?1 Cl) and very high salinity (5.83 dS m^?1 EC, 741 mg L^?1 Na and 1876 mg L^?1 Cl) for celery. The greater salts build up in the soil and ion toxicity (Cl and Na) with saline water irrigation contributed to significantly greater reduction in root and shoot biomass, water use, yield and water productivity (yield kg kL^?1 of water used) of snow peas and celery compared with treated effluent and potable water irrigation. There was 8%, 56% and 74% reduction in celery yield respectively with treated effluent, high salinity and very high salinity saline water irrigation compared with potable water irrigation. The Na concentration in snow peas shoots increased by 54%, 234% and 501% with treated effluent, low and high salinity saline water irrigation. Similarly, the increases in Na concentration in celery shoots were 19%, 35% and 82%. The treated effluent irrigation also resulted in a significant increase in soil EC, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content compared with potable water irrigation. The heavy metals besides salts build up appears to have contributed to yield reductions with treated effluent irrigation. The study reveals strong implications for the use of saline water and treated effluent for irrigation of snow peas and celery. The salt build up within the root zone and soil environment would be critical in the long-run with the use of saline water and treated effluent for irrigation of crops. To minimize the salinity level in rhizosphere, an alternate irrigation of potable water with treated effluent or low salinity level water may be better option.     

GROWTH,YIELD, AND ION RELATIONS OF STRAWBERRY IN RESPONSE TO IRRIGATION WITH CHLORIDE-DOMINATED WATERS

Strawberry is listed as the most salt sensitive fruit crop in comprehensive salt tolerance data bases. Recently, concerns have arisen regarding declining quality of irrigation waters available to coastal strawberry growers in southern and central California. Over time, the waters have become more saline, with increasing sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl^?). Due to the apparent extreme Cl^? sensitivity of strawberry, the rising Cl^? levels in the irrigation waters are of particular importance. In order to establish the specific ion causing yield reduction in strawberry, cultivars ‘Ventana’ and ‘Camarosa’ were grown in twenty-four outdoor sand tanks at the ARS-USDA U. S. Salinity Laboratory in Riverside, CA and irrigated with waters containing a complete nutrient solution plus Cl^? salts of calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), Na⁺, and potassium (K⁺). Six salinity treatments were imposed with electric conductivities (EC) = 0.835, 1.05, 1.28, 1.48, 1.71, and 2.24 dS m^?1, and were replicated four times. Fresh and dry weights of ‘Camarosa’ shoots and roots were significantly higher than those of ‘Ventana’ at all salinity levels. Marketable yield of ‘Camarosa’ fruit decreased from 770 to 360 g/plant as salinity increased and was lower at all salinity levels than the yield from the less vigorous ‘Ventana’ plants. ‘Ventana’ berry yield decreased from 925 to 705 g/plant as salinity increased from 0.835 to 2.24 dS m^?1. Relative yield of ‘Camarosa’ decreased 43% for each unit increase in salinity once irrigation water salinity exceeded 0.80 dS m^?1. Relative ‘Ventana’ yield was unaffected by irrigation water salinity up to 1.71 dS m^?1, and thereafter, for each additional unit increase in salinity, yield was reduced 61%. Both cultivars appeared to possess an exclusion mechanism whereby Na⁺ was sequestered in the roots, and Na⁺ transport to blade, petiole and fruit tissues was limited. Chloride content of the plant organs increased as salinity increased to 2.24 dS m^?1 and substrate Cl increased from 0.1 to13 mmol_cL^?1. Chloride was highest in the roots, followed by the leaves, petioles and fruit. Based on plant ion relations and relative fruit yield, we determined that, over the range of salinity levels studied, specific ion toxicity exists with respect to Cl^?, rather than to Na⁺ ions, and, further, that the salt tolerance threshold is lower for ‘Camarosa’ than for ‘Ventana’.     

Effect of Water Quality and Different Planting Methods on Wheat Yield

To study the effects of water quality and planting method on wheat yield, a field experiment was conducted. The study indicated that grain yield and yield components decreased with the utilization of saline irrigation water. However, salinity had the least effect in the system using furrow-irrigated raised wavy beds with 60 cm furrow to furrow width (FIRWB₆₀) because it had less surface soil salinity compared to conventional flat planting (FP). For the FIRWB₆₀ system, 1000-grain weight, grain protein, and leaf chlorophyll content were greater than FP. This resulted in grain yield increases of 5.3 and 12.5%, for FIRWB₆₀ in the saline irrigation water of 8 and 12 dS m ^–1, respectively, compared with FP. Based on the grain yield and yield components, it can be concluded that FIRWB is a suitable planting system for reducing salinity defects. Therefore, it can provide sustainable agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions.     

Hydrogeochemical variation of carbonate aquifer,Al-Sulaibiya,Kuwait

A study of the hydrochemical facies, zonation, genesis and the trend in ground water quality of Al-Sulaibiya field was conducted. The study area is located 120 km south of Kuwait Bay. It comprises the oldest and largest water well field which produces brackish ground water from the Dammam limestone aquifer. > 1000 ground watger samples in the period 1980–1990 were analysed. The study revealed the dominance of two major water types and two genetic water types of continental and marine origin: NaCl and CaSO₄ and SO₄-Na and Cl-Mg respectively. It also revealed that the water is mainly of chloride-sulphate and calcium-sodium facies. The aquifer salinity which increases in the NE direction, ranges from 3500 to 8000 mg L^?1. The water is very hard. The total hardness as CaCO₃ ranges between 1500–3500 mg L^?1. Thus, the only new finding was that the salinity and the total hardness of the aquifer have increased slightly and steadily over the period under investigation.     

利用15N揭示滴灌区盐旱胁迫对土壤氮素分布与棉花生长的影响

为了探究盐旱胁迫对土壤中氮素分布和棉花生长的影响,通过测坑试验研究滴灌区不同盐分、干旱条件下土壤全氮、硝氮、氨氮的分布和棉花生长情况。试验设置3种盐分梯度的土壤（电导率,EC）：3,6,9 dS/m,分别用T1、T2、T3表示;3个灌水量：2 700,3 600,4 500 m³/hm²,分别用W1、W2、W3表示（4 500 m³/hm²为当地推荐灌水量）。结果表明：当土壤盐分梯度> 3 dS/m时土壤全氮累积量显著高于低盐土壤（P<0.05）,且土壤盐分对棉花花期生长影响较大。土壤的氨氮挥发量和土壤盐分梯度成正比。土壤硝态氮的淋失与灌水量呈正比,与正常灌水量的硝态氮淋失相比,水分胁迫对棉花产量的影响更为严重（P<0.01）。随土层深度的增加,土壤碱解氮以每20 cm土层8%的速度减少。各处理土壤¹⁵N残留率为11%~40%,随土壤盐度增加而增加,随灌水量增加而减少,与土壤全氮含量呈正比,与棉花产量呈反比。综上所述,T1W3处理更有利于棉花对氮肥的利用和产量的提高,推荐滴灌区棉花土壤盐度<3 dS/m,灌水量4 500 m³/hm²,可在花期适当提高施肥量以稳定产量。     

不同矿化度咸水造墒灌溉对棉花生长发育和产量的影响

采用裂区设计, 灌溉量作为主处理, 灌溉水的矿化度作为副处理, 研究了播前不同灌溉量下不同矿化度咸水对棉花生长发育及产量的影响。研究结果表明, 不同矿化度咸水灌溉对棉花出苗时间和出苗率的影响差异较大, 随灌溉水矿化度的增大, 棉花出苗速度变缓, 出苗率降低, 其中4 g·L^-1 以下的咸水灌溉处理棉花出苗率在90%以上, 6 g·L^-1 矿化度处理平均出苗率仍可达85%左右, 但出苗时间推迟。播种前咸水灌溉量以22.5~34.0 mm 为宜。灌溉水矿化度对棉花生长发育的影响程度前期大于后期, 前期大于4 g·L^-1 矿化度处理表现出明显的抑制生长作用, 后期大于6 g·L^-1 矿化度处理才表现出明显的抑制生长作用。从产量上看, 棉花的咸水矿化度计算阈值为3.38 g·L^-1, 即在矿化度小于3.38 g·L^-1 时, 咸水灌溉的棉花产量与淡水灌溉产量差异不明显, 高于此矿化度阈值时, 棉花产量呈直线下降趋势; 但低于8 g·L^-1 咸水灌溉的棉花产量均显著高于纯旱地的棉花产量。     

灌溉水盐度对滴灌棉田土壤氨挥发的影响

【目的】氨挥发是农田氮素损失的重要途径之一,咸水灌溉直接或间接影响土壤的理化性质,进而影响土壤氨挥发,但目前对于咸水灌溉下氨挥发的报道还较少。因此通过田间试验研究尿素滴灌施肥条件下,淡水和咸水灌溉对棉田土壤氨挥发的影响。【方法】试验设置淡水和咸水两种灌溉水,其电导率(EC)分别为0.35和8.04d S/m(分别用CK和SW表示),氮肥(N)用量为240 kg/hm2。氨挥发的收集采用密闭室法,用稀硫酸作为氨的吸收液,测定用靛酚蓝比色法。【结果】1)灌溉施肥后,咸水滴灌棉田土壤盐分、脲酶活性和铵态氮含量均显著高于淡水滴灌。SW处理土壤电导率(EC1∶5)较CK平均高出4.53倍。灌溉施肥后SW处理土壤脲酶活性迅速增加,第4天达到最大,随后降低,SW处理脲酶活性较CK处理平均增加了20.6%。SW处理土壤铵态氮含量明显高于CK处理,尤其是灌溉施肥后第2天,SW处理铵态氮含量比CK处理增加了66.1%。2)SW处理棉田土壤p H值低于CK处理,但在灌溉施肥周期内都呈先增加后降低趋势,p H的变化在7.6~8.0之间。3)SW处理抑制了硝化作用,SW处理土壤硝态氮含量较CK处理显著降低。SW处理土壤硝态氮含量平均较CK低7.68%。4)3个灌溉施肥周期的平均温度分别为24.6℃、26.05℃和24.9℃,因此在第2个和第3个灌溉施肥周期氨挥发高,第1个灌溉施肥周期的总降水量最大,分别比第2和3个灌溉施肥周期高3.7 mm和10.2 mm,但降水量远远小于灌溉量,因此对于氨挥发影响不大。5)总体上,土壤氨挥发损失量在灌溉施肥后1~2天最大,占氨挥发总量的45.7%~79.3%,随后呈降低趋势;灌溉施肥后第1天土壤氨挥发最大,在3个灌溉施肥周期,SW处理第1天的氨挥发较CK分别增加70.7%、69.43%和60.8%。SW处理棉田土壤氨挥发显著高于CK处理。在三个连续灌溉施肥周期内,SW处理棉田土壤氨挥发累积总量为10.98 kg/hm2,CK处理为7.57 kg/hm2,SW处理较CK处理增加了45.1%。【结论】咸水灌溉促进了脲酶活性,但抑制了土壤的硝化作用,导致铵态氮含量增加,加剧了氨的挥发。温度升高促进土壤氨挥发,少量降雨对氨挥发影响不大。因此,滴灌施肥条件下,咸水灌溉会增加氨挥发损失。     

塔里木河下游绿洲灌区土壤盐渍化特征及季节性变化规律

[目的]研究典型绿洲灌区土壤盐渍化特征和季节性变化规律,为农业生产调控提供理论依据。[方法]运用GPS定位技术在塔里木河下游三十一团灌区不同季节进行调查与采样,并结合室内样品测定结果,对该区土壤盐分含量和各盐分离子含量进行经典统计分析和地统计学分析。[结果]研究区土壤的pH值范围在8.09～8.24之间,不同季节之间的差异不大,土壤呈碱性。土壤盐分含量受季节影响明显,在不同深度均表现为:秋季冬季春季夏季。不同季节下各深度的土壤中主要离子均相同,土壤盐分组成中阴离子主要为SO■和Cl~-,阳离子主要为K~+和Na~+,土壤盐分类型春季和秋季以硫酸盐型为主,冬季以氯化物—硫酸盐型为主。秋季与冬季的土壤盐分含量随着土层深度的增加逐渐减小,总体呈表聚型,春季与夏季的土壤盐分含量随着土层深度的增加呈先减小后增大的趋势,总体呈底聚型。春季根域层(0—60 cm)土壤的盐分在东南部的含量较高,西北部的含量较低,而深层(60—100 cm)土壤盐分在东南部的含量较底,西北部的含量较高,夏季土壤盐分整体较底,且水平分布较为一致。秋季、冬季土壤盐分的高值区都出现在研究区的西南方向,靠近塔里木河,原始保留地和荒地较多的区域。[结论]三十一团灌区土壤盐分的周年变化总体表现为秋季、冬季积盐,春季、夏季脱盐,土壤盐分的水平分布主要受土地利用类型、地形因素以及与水源位置距离的影响。     

SOYBEAN RESPONSE AND ION ACCUMULATION UNDER SPRINKLER IRRIGATION WITH SODIUM-RICH SALINE WATER

The magnitude of crop growth and yield depends on the salinity level, the toxic ions present, and the irrigation system used. In order to study the effect of saline sprinkler irrigation on soybean growth and ionic accumulation in plant tissues a pot experiment was set up. There were three irrigation water quality treatments [electrical conductivity (EC) 0, 2, and 4 dS m^?1]. Soybean aerial biomass was 25% lower than the Control when irrigation salinity was 4 dS m^?1. Clearly salinity entering via leaves affected the grain filling stage and severely reduced soybean grain production (80% reduction) when salinity in irrigation water surpassed 2 dS m^?1. Sprinkler irrigation aggravates soybean's low salinity tolerance and restricts its cropping in such conditions. For early stages two linear relationships between leaf chloride (Cl^?) concentration (Y = 14.2–2x) or potassium (K⁺)/ sodium (Na⁺) ratio (Y = 5.3x?3.4) and soybean grain yield were found. Both relationships may be used as diagnostic tools for soybean growing under saline sprinkler irrigation.     

Salinity and drought affect yield response of bell pepper similarly

Abstract

There is a growing realization that an increasing number of countries are approaching full utilization of their conventional water resources and that the quantity of good-quality water supplies available to agriculture is diminishing. Effects of irrigation regime and irrigation water salinity on bell pepper including yield, fruit number and quality, vegetative and root growth, evapotranspiration and water use efficiency were investigated in this study by conducting two different experiments. Six different salinity levels of irrigation water and four different irrigation regimes were used as treatments. Considering the results from irrigation water salinity experiment, it can be concluded that as soil salinity increases, water consumption, water use efficiency, yield and other vegetative growth parameters of bell pepper were decreased. A polynomial relationship between soil salinity and water consumption was observed. It was found that bell pepper is moderately sensitive to salinity with a 1.2 dS m^?1 threshold and a 10.9% slope value. In the irrigation regime experiment, limited irrigation caused decreases in water consumption, yield and vegetative growth of bell pepper. Yield response factors were close in the cases of irrigation regime (1.50) and irrigation water salinity (1.40). Total soluble solids of bell pepper were increased due to both irrigation water salinity and water application rate but not dry matter ratio. Considerable water consumption decreases because of salinity were determined. Therefore, the effect of irrigation water salinity should be considered in irrigation management to prevent excess saline water application and to protect the environment.     

Effects of Water Hardness and Metal Concentration on a Freshwater Tubifex Tubifex Muller

The present investigation was designed to determine the effectsof water hardness and heavy metals concentrations on a freshwaterTubifex tubifex. Very few data concerning the effect of water hardness on the acute toxicity of heavy metals are available on T. tubifex, which has been proposed as a testorganism for ecotoxicological studies. The effect of water hardness on the toxicity of heavy metals is discussed. The acutetoxicity of selected heavy metals to a freshwater T. tubifex Muller was determined in very soft, soft, hard and veryhard (12, 45, 170 and 300 mg CaCO₃ L^-1 total hardness,respectively) water. Percentage mortality of T. tubifex as influenced by heavy metals was studied in water of variable hardness. Water hardness had a significant effect on heavy metalstoxicity. The concentrations of metals necessary to immobilize 50% of the test animals at 24, 48, 72, 96 hr were significantlydifferent in soft and hard water. The 96 hr EC₅₀ valuesfor T. tubifex were higher in hard and very hard watercompared with soft and very soft water. Median effectiveconcentrations (EC₅₀) and their 95% confidence limits weredetermined for cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, and zinc during exposure for 24, 48,72 and 96 hr in four different water hardness. Hardness has a muchsmaller effect upon the acute toxicity of mercury than the otherheavy metals tested. The results indicate that Cu, Cd, Hg and Zninduced autotomy of the caudal region and mucus production. It isconcluded that water hardness parameters should be considered inestablishing appropriate water quality criteria and standards forthe protection of aquatic fauna and flora, and ultimately human health.     

Toxicity of uranium to Daphnia magna

The toxicity of U to Daphnia magna was determined in acute and chronic tests. The 48-hr LC₅₀ of U (VI) in Columbia River water was 6 mg L^?1. Acute toxicity diminished by a factor of 7.5 as mean water hardness and alkalinity values increased from 70 mg L^?1. and 57 mg L^?1. to 195 mg L^?1. and 130 mg L^?1. respectively. This effect was most likely the result of complexation of uranyl ion with carbonate ions. D. magna reproduction was suppressed in Columbia River water at U concentrations between 0.5 and 3.5 mg L^?1. Potential hazards of U to aquatic life are discussed as they relate to mining practices.