| Abstract: | Abstract The effects of different kinds and concentrations of salts on dry matter yield and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents of rice plants under greenhouse conditions were determined for two silt loam soils, one from southern Ohio (Clermont) and one from Arkansas (Crowley). Yield and N and P contents tended to be enhanced by low salt concentration but to be depressed at higher concentration. The chloride salts (NaCl, CaCl2) were most detrimental to yield and N and P contents, while the sulfate salts (especially Na2SO4,) were beneficial when the electrolyte concentration and P in the soil were not high. The degree of adverse response to salts in the irrigation water and of favorable response to P fertilizer were reflected in the levels of electrolyte and available P in the soils studied. Total N content of the rice tissue increased much more from N and P additions than did total P content. The NaCl (1.5 mmhos/cm) and NaCl + Na2SO4 (3.0 mmhos/cm) salt treatments vere generally least detrimental, and NaCl and NaCl + CaCl2both at 3.0 mmhos/cm were most detrimental to yield and N and P contents of tissue. In the non‐lethal response range, salt‐depression of yield and N and P contents of tissue may well be largely or partially overcome by fertilizer application. In this study, the best combination of fertilizer and salt was the highest level of N (268 kg N/ha) and intermediate level of P (67 kg P/ha), in combination with NaCl + Na2SO4. |
