Mineral nutrient analysis of three halophytic grasses under sodic and saline stress conditions

Abstract

Present study was carried out to assess the effects of soil salinity/sodicity on mineral nutrient status of Urochondra setulosa, Leptochloa fusca and Sporobolus marginatus at ICAR- Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana during 2016–19. Treatments of salinity/sodicity (pH ~ 9.5, pH ~ 10, ECe ~ 30 dS/m, ECe ~ 40 dS/m and ECe ~ 50 dS/m) were created in microplots (2.5 m × 1.5 m × 0.5 m) using saline/sodic water. Na+ and Cl– content (% DW) significantly increased with increasing sodicity/salinity stress condition in all three grass halophytes, whereas K+ content decreased. These grass halophytic species showed relatively less reduction in Ca, Mg and Fe contents up to sodic stress of pH ~ 9.5 and salinity level of ECe ~ 40 dS/m. Zn, Cu and Mn content decreased with increasing stress conditions but higher decrease was observed under sodic stress. The Na+/K+ and Na+/Ca2+ ratio was considered as indicators for measuring salt tolerance in plants. Na+/K+ ratio increased with increasing stress condition in all the three grasses but Leptachloa maintained their Na+/K+ near pH 1.0 under sodic stress condition and also maintained their Na+/Ca2+ below 1.0 up to pH ~ 9.5 and ECe ~ 40 dS/m. Higher sodic stress of pH~10.0 caused significant increase in Na+/Ca2+ in Urochondra and Sporobolus, whereas under highest salinity level, Leptachloa showed highest value for Na+/Ca2+. Changes in the accumulation patterns of nutrient in response to salinity is an important aspect and study showed highest positive correlation between Ca - Mg & Zn and negative between Na - Ca and K.

Physiological adaptability of Salvadora oleoides to sodicity and salinity stress

“…In addition to accumulation of organic osmolytes, S. oleoides also accumulated inorganic solutes in the form of Na + , K + and Clbut salt stress led disturbance in availability, absorption and transportation of nutrient contents (Lata et al 2022). These ions could also serve as inorganic osmolytes upto certain limits but higher accumulation resulted in ion toxicity.…”

Genotypic Variability in Wheat Response to Sodicity: Evaluating Growth and Ion Accumulation in the Root and Shoot

“…Numerous studies have shown that an increase in the ESP causes a significant decrease in K availability as well as an increase in the Na concentration of the plant tissues [14], including in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) [15,16], rapeseed (Brassica napus) [17], sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) [18], rice (Oryza sativa) [19], aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) [20], barley (Hordeum vulgare) [21], and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) [22,23]. Additionally, the low productivity of sodic soils is partly ascribed to micronutrient deficiencies resulting from their high pH levels [24,25]. However, not all studies have found micronutrient deficiencies in sodic soils, with Wright and Rajper [23] finding no differences in the concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in wheat grain and straw, although the total content of these micronutrients was decreased due to lower DM.…”