Ion Uptake in Tall Fescue as Affected by Carbonate, Chloride, and Sulfate Salinity

Abstract

Turfgrass nutrient uptake may be differentially affected by different salts. The objective of this study was to compare nutrient uptake in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) as affected by carbonate, chloride, and sulfate under iso-osmotic, iso-Na+ strength conditions. ‘Tar Heel II’ and ‘Wolfpack’ cultivars were subjected to NaCl, Na2CO3, Na2SO4, CaCl2, NaCl+ CaCl2, Na2CO3+ CaCl2, and Na2SO4+ CaCl2, in the range of 0 to 225 mM. There was no cultivar difference regarding K, Na, Mg, and Mn content in shoots. ‘Tar Heel II’ had higher shoot Ca content than ‘Wolfpack’, which were 6.9 and 5.7 g kg−1, respectively. In general, K+/Na+ ratio decreased with increasing salt concentrations, which reached <1 at about 87.5 mM in Na2CO3 treatment. All salt treatments decreased Mg content in shoot tissues, especially in Na2CO3 and treatments containing CaCl2. Both Ca and Mg content in shoot were higher in the NaCl treatment than the Na2SO4 and Na2CO3 treatments. All salt treatments except Na2CO3 had higher Mn content in shoots compared to the control. In conclusion, nutrient uptake was differently affected by carbonate, chloride, and sulfate which are different in pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and osmotic potential at the same concentration. Adding Ca to the sodium salts increased Ca content and balanced K+/Na+ in shoots, but did not increase Mg content, which was below sufficient level. Maintaining Mg content in shoots under salinity stress was recommended. The physiological impact of elevated Mn content in shoot under salinity stress requires further study.

Ion‐dependent metabolic responses of Vicia faba L. to salt stress

“…Because the concentrations of all three salts were equimolar, the similar growth behaviour cannot be considered as salt‐type‐induced but rather as representing effects of ionic strength. The lower electrical conductivity of equimolar Na 2 SO 4 treatments (Han, Gao, & Li, ) compared with equimolar NaCl concentration also had no specific consequences on plant growth performance. The finding that osmotic stress can override the effect of ion toxicity by influencing plant growth in the case of NaCl stress is in good accord with several other studies (Bernstein, ; Hochman et al, ; Munns & Gilliham, ; Neumann, ).…”

Alleviation of Salt Stress by K2so4 in Two Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Cultivars

“…Uptake of toxic ions by plants growing on saline soils disturb their metabolic activities and concentration of toxic ions like Na + and Cl -increases inside the tissues consequently water potential decreases that reduces growth and productivity of plants (Akhtar et al, 2013;Kausar and Gull, 2014b). The increased concentrations of toxic ions decreases the absorption of essential nutrients like calcium, megnessium, phosphorus, potassium andiron (Marjan et al, 2012;Han et al, 2014) and as a result plants suffer from nutritional imbalance . The development of plants, mainly depends upon the rate of photosynthesis which is adversely affected by salt stress, especially sensitive genotypes of all crops (Kausar et al, 2012; , 2015).…”

Effect of Potassium Sulphate on the Growth and Uptake of Nutrients in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Under Salt Stressed Conditions

“…As a result the plants suffer from nutritional imbalance. The increased in the concentration of NaCl decreases the ionic concentrations of Mg, Ca and K (Han et al, 2014;Gupta & Huang, 2014). Plant development relies on the rate of photosynthesis.…”