COMPARISON OF YIELD,NUTRIENT SOLUTION CHANGES AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF GREENHOUSE TOMATO GROWN IN RECIRCULATING AND NON-RECIRCULATING NUTRIENT SOLUTION SYSTEMS

Studies were carried out in the years 2005–2007 with greenhouse tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. ‘Emotion F₁’ grown in rockwool with the recirculating and non-recirculating nutrient solution systems. No significant differences were found in yields of fruits in both systems. In the recirculating system there was more intensive accumulation of sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), chloride (Cl), and zinc (Zn) in the root environment. Leaves of tomato grown in the recirculating nutrient solution system showed a higher content of Ca, magnesium (Mg), and Zn. There were no differences in the contents of nitrates and nitrites in fruits. In the recirculating system, the following savings were recorded: 42.5% of water and (in%): 42.1 nitrogen (N)- ammonium (NH₄), 56.0 N- nitrate (NO₃), 31.4 phosphorus (P), 52.1 potassium (K), 63.5 Ca, 47.9 magnesium (Mg), 49.4 sulfur (S)- sulfate (SO₄), 51.9 Cl, 50.9 iron (Fe), 47.9 Zn, 24.6 manganese (Mn), 53.3 copper (Cu) and 47.2 boron (B). A high effectiveness in decreasing of bacteria number in drain water by UV irradiation was found.     

RESPONSE OF CHICKPEA TO NITROGEN SOURCES UNDER SALINITY STRESS

Abstract

In vitro‐grown Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. cultivars Bright Golden Anne, Deep Luv, and Lucido were exposed to elevated mannitol, sucrose, or sorbitol concentrations to see if their response to this osmotic stress mimics that of in vivo plants enduring water deficit. The relative efficacy of the three osmotic agents at manifesting a response was also evaluated. Tissue osmolarity paralleled media mannitol and sorbitol concentration for all three cultivars. Shoot growth correspondingly decreased with increased osmolarity applied during the rooting phase. These responses generally resembled those of water‐stressed greenhouse plants. The degree of response varied with cultivar; ‘Lucido’ was the most sensitive and ‘Bright Golden Anne’ the least. Sucrose (metabolized by the plants) failed to elicit consistent osmotic stress symptoms; instead it enhanced both shoot and root growth. In vitro stress‐induced symptoms were produced in both proliferation and rooting stages, but consistent shoot growth reduction with increasing levels of incorporated osmotic agent was only observed during rooting. Plants did not retain the osmotic adjustment when they were subsequently subcultured from the stress treatments back to the control medium.     

INFLUENCE OF SODIUM CHLORIDE AND CALCIUM FOLIAR SPRAY ON HYDROPONICALLY GROWN PARSLEY IN NUTRIENT FILM TECHNIQUE SYSTEM

The effects of salinity [30 or 90 mM sodium chloride (NaCl)] and calcium (Ca) foliar application on plant growth were investigated in hydroponically-grown parsley (Petroselinum crispum Mill). Increasing salinity reduced fresh weight and leaf number. Calcium alleviated the negative impacts of 30 mM NaCl on plant biomass and leaf fresh weight but not in case of 90 mM. Plant height, leaf and root dry weight and root length did not differ among treatments. Total phenols increased with calcium application, chlorophyll b reduced by salinity, while total carotenoids increased with salinity and/or Ca application. Salinity reduced nutrient uptake [nitrate (NO₃), potassium (K), phosphorus (P) and Ca] and elemental content in leaves and roots. Calcium application reduced P but increased Ca content in plant tissues. Increments of Na uptake in nutrient solution resulted in higher Na content in leaves and roots regardless Ca application. These findings suggest that calcium treatment may alleviate the negative impacts of salinity.     

MINERAL NUTRIENT CONTENT OF TOMATO PLANTS IN AQUAPONIC AND HYDROPONIC SYSTEMS: EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF SOME MACRO- AND MICRO-NUTRIENTS

Effects of foliar applications of some micro- and macro-nutrients on mineral nutrient content of tomato leaves and fruits were investigated in an aquaponic system in comparison with a hydroponic system. Fourteen days old tomatoes seedlings were transplanted on to growth bed of aquaponic and hydroponic systems. Foliar nutrients application began 30 days after transplantation. Eight treatments were used, untreated control and foliar application at the rate of 250 mL plant^?1 with 0.5 g L^?1 potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄), magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄ 7H₂O), ferrous (Fe)- ethylenediamine-N,N′-bis (EDDHA), manganese sulfate (MnSO₄ H₂O), boric acid (H₃BO₃), zinc chloride (ZnCl₂), and copper sulfate (CuSO₄ 5H₂O). Foliar application of potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) increased their corresponding concentrations in the leaves of aquaponic-treated plants. On the other hand, foliar spray of K, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu caused a significant increment of applied element concentrations in the fruits of hydroponic-grown plants. These findings indicated that foliar application of some elements can effectively alleviate nutrient deficiencies in the leaves of tomatoes grown on aquaponics.     

SOIL SALINITY AND SODICITY APPRAISAL BY ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION IN SOILS IRRIGATED TO GROW COTTON

In the Far West Texas region in the USA, long‐term irrigation of fine‐textured valley soils with saline Rio Grande River water has led to soil salinity and sodicity problems. Soil salinity [measured by saturated paste electrical conductivity (EC_e)] and sodicity [measured by sodium adsorption ratio (SAR)] in the irrigated areas have resulted in poor growing conditions, reduced crop yields, and declining farm profitability. Understanding the spatial distribution of EC_e and SAR within the affected areas is necessary for developing management practices. Conventional methods of assessing EC_e and SAR distribution at a high spatial resolution are expensive and time consuming. This study evaluated the accuracy of electromagnetic induction (EMI), which measures apparent electrical conductivity (EC_a), to delineate EC_e and SAR distribution in two cotton fields located in the Hudspeth and El Paso Counties of Texas, USA. Calibration equations for converting EC_a into EC_e and SAR were derived using the multiple linear regression (MLR) model included in the EC_e Sampling Assessment and Prediction program package developed by the US Salinity Laboratory. Correlations between EC_a and soil variables (clay content, EC_e, SAR) were highly significant (p ≤ 0·05). This was further confirmed by significant (p ≤ 0·05) MLRs used for estimating EC_e and SAR. The EC_e and SAR determined by EC_a closely matched the measured EC_e and SAR values of the study site soils, which ranged from 0·47 to 9·87 dS m⁻¹ and 2·27 to 27·4 mmol^1/2 L^−1/2, respectively. High R² values between estimated and measured soil EC_e and SAR values validated the MLR model results. Results of this study indicated that the EMI method can be used for rapid and accurate delineation of salinity and sodicity distribution within the affected area. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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’.     

INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN AND SALINITY LEVELS ON THE FRUIT YIELD AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF TOMATO IN A HYDROPONIC CULTURE

Tomato seedlings were transferred to continuously, aerated plastic containers. Treatments consisted of three nitrogen (N) levels [0, 1.5, and 3% as ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) and ammonium phosphate (NH₄H₂PO₄) 2:1 w/w] and three salinity levels (0, 30, and 60 mM using sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium chloride (CaCl₂)]. Results indicated significant positive and negative responses in fruits fresh weight to nitrogen and salinity treatments, respectively. Number of fruits and root length decreased at high salinity level. Phosphorus (P) content was highest in fruits and lowest in roots. Fruit P uptake decreased with salinity applications in N controls. At low salinity levels, N application mitigated the salinity detrimental effects; however, such an effect was not observed at the high salinity level. Nitrogen application significantly decreased iron, zinc, copper, and manganese concentration and uptake. Application of nitrogen and salinity levels significantly increased the citric acid content of tomato fruits. Vitamin C content of fruits was neither influenced by nitrogen nor by salinity.     

WHEAT GENOTYPES DIFFERED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THEIR RESPONSE TO SILICON NUTRITION UNDER SALINITY STRESS

We studied the growth and ionic composition of five wheat genotypes (Inqlab-91, Uqab 2002, SARC-1, SARC-3, and SARC-5) grown under salinity stress to applied silicon. Plants were grown with three levels of salinity [0, 60, and 120 mM sodium chloride (NaCl)] in the presence of 0, 2, and 4 mM Si in nutrient solution for 40 days. Salinity stress significantly decreased shoot and root biomass in plants with varying degrees. Genotype SARC-3 exhibited higher salt tolerance than other genotypes. Silicon (Si) application significantly (P < 0.05) increased plant biomass at both control as well as under saline conditions. Genotypes differed significantly for their response to applied Si in terms of biomass production. Silicon application significantly (P < 0.01) increased potassium (K⁺) concentration in shoots. Enhanced salinity tolerance in wheat by Si application was attributed to increased K⁺ uptake thereby increasing K⁺/sodium (Na⁺) ratio and lower Na⁺ translocation towards shoot.     

大麦盐害及耐盐机理的研究进展

大麦是禾谷作物中较为耐盐的粮食作物。然而在盐胁迫环境下,Na+能把膜系统中的其他离子置换下来,使细胞过多地吸收Na+和Cl-,从而导致细胞膜系统受损、DNA降解、植物营养亏缺、生理干旱以及细胞死亡等伤害。大麦自身在受到盐分胁迫下,耐盐机制有:离子的选择性吸收、拒盐排盐性、渗透调节物质的合成以及离子在植株体内的运输交换。进行大麦耐盐性选择时,萌发力、耐盐指数、Na+/K+和渗透调节物质的合成能力,都是比较重要的选择标准。基于大麦较好的耐盐性,可通过遗传育种改良、化学控制、耕作等措施和途径提高大麦的耐盐抗盐能力,减轻盐害,提高大麦产量和品质。     

Effect of nutrient solution salinity and ionic concentration on parsley (Petroselinum crispum Mill.) essential oil yield and content

The growth and essential oil (EO) production of parsley were evaluated in response to salinity and nutrient solution concentrations in a soilless culture. Parsley plants that were 60 days old were potted in a coconut fiber and peat moss medium and were treated with four different nutrient solutions, including T1, T2, T3 and T4. The T1 nutrient solution was the standard, the T2 and T3 solutions contained incremental macronutrient concentrations with an electrical conductivity (EC) of up to 2.2 and 3.2 dS m^?1, respectively, and the T4 solution was the same as T2 but with sodium chloride (NaCl) and an incremental macronutrient concentration with an EC of 3.2 dS m^?1. Next, these plants were grown for 90 days in a greenhouse with natural daylight in Nador, Morocco. Shoot and root growth significant decreased with increasing EC. However, the salinity that resulted from the addition of NaCl did not affect plant growth in the nutrient solutions. The optimum obtained growth and EO production were 1.2 and 2.2 dS m^?1, respectively. Consequently, the optimum EC value (based on the EO production) of parsley in the soilless culture was 1.2–2.2 dS m^?1.     

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF CHAMAEROPS HUMILIS L. AND WASHINGTONIA ROBUSTA H. WENDL PALM TREES AND THEIR LONG-TERM NUTRITIONAL RESPONSES TO SALINITY

The ornamental value of plants used in semiarid areas can be improved by knowledge of their required nutrients and of their nutritional responses under saline conditions. We present a long-term study concerning the nutritional status in Chamaerops humilis and Washingtonia robusta. Two-year-old plants were grown for two years outdoors in pots using water with electrical conductivity values of 2 (control) or 8 dS m^?1 (saline conditions). Nutrient specific absorption rates and leaf nutrient transport rates were estimated by fitting a Richards function regression. We suggest fertilizing C. humilis and W. robusta plants with nitrogen (N): phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅): dipotassium oxide (K₂O) ratios of 4:1:5 and 5:1:3, respectively. Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) and Plant Analysis with Standardized Scores (PASS) norms were also evaluated. PASS norms provided better nutritional diagnosis than DRIS norms. In saline conditions, PASS-INI (Independent nutrient index) pointed to a deficiency (C. humilis and of nitrogen in W. robusta.     

EFFECTS OF SALINITY AND CALCIUM ON THE GROWTH AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF PISTACHIO SEEDLINGS

Poor quality of irrigation water (high salinity) has reduced the yields of pistachio over recent years, especially in Kerman. The effects of four salinity levels [0, 30, 60, and 90 mM sodium chloride (NaCl)] and three calcium (Ca) levels [0, 0.5, and 1 mM Ca as calcium nitrate (Ca(NO₃)₂.4H₂O)] on growth and chemical composition of pistachio seedlings cv. ‘Badami’ were studied in sand culture under greenhouse conditions in completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications. After 170 days, leaf area, leaf number, shoot and root dry weights were determined. Also shoot and root sodium (Na), potassium (K), Ca, and magnesium (Mg) concentrations were measured. Results showed salinity decreased all growth parameters. Ca application increased shoot and root Ca concentrations and root K concentration, while Ca application decreased shoot K concentration and shoot and root Mg concentrations. Salinity decreased shoot Ca, root K, and root Mg concentrations, while salinity increased shoot and root total sodium uptake, and shoot and root Cl concentrations.     

江苏典型滩涂区地下水及土壤的盐分特征研究

本文通过大量采样分析及数值拟合等方法,研究获得江苏典型滩涂分布区的地下水以及土壤的盐分含量、盐分离子组成特征及其分布规律;分别获得了地下水矿化度与地下水电导率、土壤全盐量与1:5土水比浸提液电导率之间的关系函数,应用这些关系函数将能够快速获得具有良好精度的相应要素的测定结果。本文研究成果将为江苏滩涂开发利用提供重要的理论及决策依据,并因而具有较为广泛的应用前景。     

RESPONSE OF MAIZE GENOTYPES TO SEVERAL MYCORRHIZAL INOCULUMS IN TERMS OF PLANT GROWTH,NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND SPORE PRODUCTION

A greenhouse experiment was conducted at the University of Çukurova, Rhisosphere Lab, Adana, Turkey, on a growth medium to assess the impact of several selected mycorrhiza including indigenous AMF-maize hybrid combinations on spore production, plant growth and nutrient uptake. In the experiment, six maize (Zea mays L.) (Luce, Vero, Darva, Pegasso, P.3394, and P.32K61) genotypes were used. Control, Glomus mossea, G. caledonium, G. etunicatum, G. clarium, G. macrocarpum, G. fasciculatum, G. intraradices, Dr. Kinkon (Japanese species), indigenous mycorrhizae (Balcal? series) and cocktail mycorrhizae species spores were used. The growth of maize genotypes was found to depend on the mycorrhizal species. For shoot and root dry weight production G. intraradices is one of the most efficient mycorrhiza species on average on all maize genotypes. Genotypes P.3394 and P.32K61 produced the highest shoot and root dry weight as well. Pagasso and Darva genotypes compared to the other genotypes have high root colonization percentages. On average G. clarium inoculated plants also have high percentages of root colonization. It has been found that the P.32K61 genotype has a high phosphorus (P)% content and Pagasso genotypes have higher zinc (Zn) content uptake than other genotypes. G. clarium inoculated maize genotype plant tissues have high P% and Zn content. G. intraradices is also efficient for P and Zn uptake. Mycorrhizal dependent maize genotypes showed variability in P efficiency from inefficient to efficient genotypes.     

MODELING GROWTH AND ION CONCENTRATION OF LILIUM IN RESPONSE TO NITROGEN:POTASSIUM:CALCIUM MIXTURE SOLUTIONS

Nutrient solution composition plays an important role in root uptake rate due to interactions among nutrients and internal regulation. Studies to determine the optimum nutrient solution concentration are focused on individual ions, ignoring the adaptation mechanisms triggered by plants when growing in a varying external nutrient concentration. The objective of the present study was to determine the response in growth and tissue ion concentration of lilium cv. ‘Navona’ to nutrient mixtures of varying proportions of nitrogen (N), potassium (K⁺), and calcium (Ca²⁺) in solution using mixture experiments methodology in order to determine the optimum concentration. Bulbs of lilium were transplanted in plastic crates and drip-irrigated with the treatment solutions, which consisted of a mixture of N, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ whose total concentration was 340 mg L^?1 and minimum concentrations of each ion was 34 mg L^?1. Chlorophyll concentration (SPAD), shoot fresh weight (FW), leaf FW, and leaf area were measured 60 days after transplanting and ion analysis was performed on shoot tissues from selected treatments. Lilium exhibited a moderate demand for N and K⁺ (136–170 mg L^?1 N and 116–136 mg L^?1 K⁺) and a very low demand for Ca²⁺ (34–88 mg · L^?1). This low demand may be due to the remobilization of the nutrients stored in the bulbs. Integrating the predictions of the models estimated to produce >90% of maximum growth, the optimum nutrient solution should contain Ca²⁺ at a concentration between 34 and 126 mg · L^?1, K⁺ between 119 and 211 mg · L^?1, and N between 92 mg · L^?1 and 211 mg · L^?1. Increasing external N concentration affected internal N concentration but not internal K⁺ or Ca²⁺ concentrations, despite that the increase in external N was associated with a decrease in external K⁺ and Ca²⁺. Similar trends were observed for external K⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentration. In conclusion, lilium was able to maintain a relatively constant K⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentration regardless of the lower concentration in the nutrient solution when N was increased (similar response was observed for K⁺ and Ca²⁺) and it has a low Ca²⁺ demand and moderate N and K⁺ supply.     

EFFECT OF SALINITY ON SEEDLING EMERGENCE OF PROTEA COMPACTA,P. CYNAROIDES,AND P. MAGNIFICA (PROTEACEAE)

Protea compacta, P. cynaroides, and P. magnifica, South African protea species cultivated for cut flowers, were tested in order to determine their salinity tolerance at seedling emergence. The seeds were sown in a mixture of peat-moss and volcanic ash (1:1 v/v). Five water salinity levels (0.5, 1.7, 2.7, 4.8 and 8.2 dS m^?1 for P. cynaroides, and 0.2, 1.3, 2.4, 4.7 and 8.5 dS m^?1 for P. compacta and P. magnifica) were imposed by irrigating with water that contained sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium chloride (CaCl₂) (normal ratio 2:1). In the Tenerife coastal area, water from wells has a similar or higher sodium (Na)/ calcium (Ca) ratio. Seedling emergence percentages and rates (speed of emergence) were measured. In general, the increased salinity caused a decrease in the percentage of seedling emergence and retarded the emergence process. With regard to seedling emergence rates, the species that showed a greater salinity tolerance was P. cynaroides which had a salinity tolerance index (ST-Index) of 7.93, followed by P. compacta and P. magnifica with ST-Indices of 5.93 and 5.08, respectively. With regard to the seedling emergence percentages, the species that showed a greater salinity tolerance was P. cynaroides which had a ST-Index of 8.01, followed by P. compacta and P. magnifica, with ST-Indices of 7.91 and 6.39, respectively. The calculation of the ST-Indices using the electrical conductivity of the saturated soil extract (EC_e) allowed us to observe that, at seedling emergence, P. compacta, P. cynaroides, and P. magnifica are moderately sensitive to salinity.     

EFFECTS OF CALCIUM AND SALINITY STRESS ON QUALITY OF LETTUCE IN SOILLESS CULTURE

Abstract

Fine fescues (Festuca spp.) are generally considered acid tolerant compared to other cool‐season turfgrasses. However, there is little information on aluminum (Al) tolerance of fine fescues at both the species and cultivar levels. The objectives of this study were to identy cultivars of fine fescues with superior ability to tolerate Al, and compare the Al tolerance of endophyte infected and endophyte‐free cultivars in Al tolerance. A total of 58 cultrvars of fine fescues belonging to five species or subspecies [14 hard fescue (F. longifolia Thuill), 25 Chewings fescue (F. rubra L. ssp. commutata Gaud), 15 strong creeping red fescue (F. rubra L. ssp. rubra), two slender creeping red fescue (F. rubra L. ssp. trichophylla), and two sheep fescue (F. ovina L.)] were selected from the 1993 National Fineleaf Fescue Test and screened under greenhouse conditions using solution culture, sand culture, and acid Tatum soil (Clayey, mixed, thermic, typic, Hapludult). The acid Tatum soil had 69% exchangeable Al and a pH of 4.4. An Al concentration of 640 μM and a pH of 4.0 were used in solution culture and sand culture screening. The grasses were seeded and grown for three weeks before harvesting. Aluminum tolerance was assessed by measuring relative root length, shoot length, root weight, shoot weight, and total dry matter. Differences in Al tolerance were identified at both the species and cultivar level based on relative growth were as follows: i) hard fescue and Chewings fescue were more Al tolerant than strong creeping red fescue; ii) within species or subspecies, significant differences were found among cultvars of Chewings fescue, strong creeping red fescue, slender creeping red fescue, and sheep fescue; whereas no difference was observed among the hard fescue cultivars; and iii) the cultivars containing endophyte exhibited greater Al tolerance compared the eudophyte‐free cultivars. The results indicate that fine fescues vary in Al tolerance and there is potential to improve Al tolerance with breeding and to refine their management recommendations regarding soil pH.     

NUTRITIONAL RESPONSES OF CITRUS ROOTSTOCKS TO SALINITY: PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW HYBRIDS FORNER-ALCAIDE 5 AND FORNER-ALCAIDE 13

This study assesses the nutritional behavior of the new citrus rootstocks Forner-Alcaide no.5 (FA-5) and Forner-Alcaide no.13 (FA-13) under saline conditions compared to that of their parents, Cleopatra mandarin (CM) and Poncirus trifoliata (PT). Eighteen month-old plants grafted with Valencia orange scions were used in the experiment. The plants were grown in a greenhouse and irrigated over an eight-week period with nutrient solutions to which different amounts of sodium chloride (NaCl) had been added, namely 0, 20, 40 and 60 mM. Relative growth and the uptake of major mineral elements [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg)] were then determined. It was noted that the reduction in relative growth caused by salt treatment was greater in plants grafted on PT than those on FA-13, FA-5 and CM. Increasing the salt level in the growth medium reduced the absorption of the above mineral elements in all scion-rootstock combinations. However, this decrease was generally more marked in plants grafted on PT than in those on CM and FA-5. Plants on FA-13 showed an intermediate behavior. Positive correlations were found between growth and mineral element uptake by salt treated plants. Nutrient uptake was also plotted against chloride (Cl) and sodium (Na) concentrations in leaves and roots at increasing salt levels. This showed that N absorption was closely correlated (inversely) with Cl content in leaves, whereas K, Ca and Mg uptakes were correlated (inversely) with Na concentration in roots. This suggests that the accumulation of saline ions impacts growth and nutrient uptake by citrus plants.     

INTERACTIONS OF POD-ZONE PH AND CALCIUM CONCENTRATION ON FRUCTIFICATION OF GROUNDNUT GROWN IN SOLUTION CULTURE

Low soil pH and calcium (Ca) deficiency in both the root and pod-zone are important problems for groundnut production world-over on account of the light-textured nature of the soils suitable for its production. An experiment was conducted to examine the interaction of pH and calcium (Ca) supply in the pod-zone on reproductive growth of groundnut. Attached gynophores were cultured singly in solutions at three pH levels (3.5, 5.0, and 6.5) in factorial combination with three solution Ca concentration levels (500, 1000, and 2000 μM). Generally, low pH had an adverse effect on the reproductive growth of groundnut. Approximately 58% of the gynophores cultured in treatment combinations with pH 3.5 produced normal pods, compared to 94% in combinations with pH 5.0 and 6.5. In addition, both pod mass and seed mass were severely depressed in treatment combinations with pH 3.5 compared to combinations with pH 5.0 and pH 6.5. Increasing Ca from 500 to 2000 μM Ca at low pH had limited ameliorative effect on pod-set, pod mass and seed mass, whereas positive responses were higher at the intermediate pH of 5.0. A combination of high Ca and pH appeared to be detrimental to pod and seed growth.