Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on the Growth and Quality of Tamarind Seedlings Irrigated with Saline Water

Abstract

Aims: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization on the production of Tamarindus indica L. seedlings irrigated with saline water.
 Study Design: A randomized complete block design was used in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme, whose factors were the electrical conductivity levels of the irrigation water.
 Place and Duration of Study: The work was conducted under protected environment conditions (greenhouse) at the Federal University of Campina Grande, Center for Agro-Food Sciences and Technology, Campus of Pombal-PB, Brazil, in the period from January and March 2017.
 Methodology: Effects of doses of 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg of nitrogen (N) dm-3 and electrical conductivity levels of the irrigation water (ECw) (0.3, 2.1, 3.7 and 5.2 dS m-1) on growth of Tamarindus indica L. have been studied.
 Results: The growth of the seedlings was reduced by the increase of the electrical conductivity of the irrigation water, however, irrigation with ECw water of 2.15 dS m-1, promotes acceptable reductions of 10% in the morphology of the tamarind tree.
 Conclusion: The use of nitrogen fertilization with urea did not attenuate the deleterious effects of irrigation water salinity or promoted improvements of the quality of the tamarind seedlings.

GROWTH PERORMANCE OF TAMARIND (Tamarindus indica L.) SEEDLINGS TO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SALINITY AND SODICITY

“…All these factors have damaging effects on physiological and biochemical processes of plants and consequently, salt stressed plants show poor performance (Hasanuzzaman et al, 2013). Similarly, Fatima et al (2019) concluded that salinity levels of 3.7 and 5.2 dS m-1 had detrimental effect on shoot height and stem diameter of tamarind plants which support the current findings.…”

“…Increasing levels of saline water compromised growth parameters of tamarind seedling and higher intensity of saline water significantly reduced seedling biomass, leaf area, chlorophyll contents and carotenoids. Fatima et al (2019) concluded that saline water irrigation with 2.15 dS m-1 caused an acceptable reduction of 10% in growth variables of tamarind plant while further increase in salinity i.e., 3.7 and 5.2 dS m-1 had detrimental effect on shoot height and stem diameter. Previously El-Siddig et al (2004) exposed the tamarind seedlings to 0, 30, 60 and 120 mM NaCl solution.…”