The influence of different forms and concentrations of nitrogen on the growth and metabolism of digitaria eriantha and chloris Gayana grown under saline conditions

Abstract

Chloris gayana and Digitaria eriantha plants were watered with nutrient media containing a high concentration of sodium chloride (150 mM) and either high (200 mg/l) or low (25 mg/l) concentrations of nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen. Dry mass and leaf area production as well as the total reduced nitrogen content of the above ground components were promoted when higher levels of nitrogen, particularly the nitrate form, were applied. As expected the halophytic grass Chloris gayana was able to produce higher levels of dry matter when it was grown in saline conditions compared to Digitaria eriantha under equally saline conditions.