Articles
ALLEVIATION OF SALINITY – INDUCED STRESS IN CASH CROPS BY MULTI-K (POTASSIUM NITRATE), FIVE CASES TYPIFYING THE UNDERLYING PATTERN
Article number
573_4
Pages
43 – 48
Language
English
Abstract
The use of enhanced potassic plant nutrition is an efficient method of preventing sodium-induced stress in many crops.
In addition, the use of enhanced nitrate fertilization is a potent tool in precluding chloride-induced stress in many crops.
The application of Multi-K (potassium nitrate) is shown here as a very efficient method of combating the aforementioned stresses and enhancing crops performances under saline conditions.
This concept is validated shown here for five moderately salinity-sensitive crops representing the three main sectors of agriculture: A) sweet corn for annual field crops, B) citrus for perennials, and C) tomato, lettuce and Chinese cabbage for greenhouse-grown vegetables.
By adding Multi-K to their nutrition program, these crops were better able to cope with salinity conditions despite higher EC levels resulting from this treatment.
The incorporation of Multi-K at 2, 8 or 14 mM in the nutrition scheme of salinized sweet corn significantly increased dry matter production and ear yield.
Salinity treatments (6.6 18 mM of Cl–) markedly increased Cl and Na contents of grapefruit leaves, thereby reducing the total yield of the trees and their canopy volumes, but had a minor effect on K content of the leaves.
By maintaining a constant concentration of 2 mM Multi-K in the irrigation water, the adverse effects of salinity treatments on the trees were avoided.
The resulting yields increased from 3 to 38%.
Salination (50 mM NaCl) of the nutrient solution of greenhouse tomatoes markedly decreased K content of the leaves, fruit-set rate, number of flowers, dry weights of the plants, fruit sizes and stem heights.
Adding Multi-K at 2, 4 or 8 mM to the salinized nutrient solution reversed these effects, despite marked increase in EC. Moreover, several vegetative parameters were improved over the non-salinized controls.
Three levels of Multi-K (1, 5 and 10 mM) were tested on salinized (52 mM of Cl–) hydroponically grown lettuce and Chinese cabbage.
The highest yields of fresh weight of both crops were obtained from the 5 mM Multi-K treatment, under both saline and non-saline conditions.
Salination increased the concentration of Na and Cl in plant tissue and reduced the levels of N and K; the opposite occurred in plants fed by the medium and high levels of Multi-K.
All the aforementioned results clearly demonstrate that plants can successfully cope with stresses imposed by 30-50 mM Na and Cl, by continuous application of Multi-K at 28 mM. A general model can explain all phenomena involved.
In addition, the use of enhanced nitrate fertilization is a potent tool in precluding chloride-induced stress in many crops.
The application of Multi-K (potassium nitrate) is shown here as a very efficient method of combating the aforementioned stresses and enhancing crops performances under saline conditions.
This concept is validated shown here for five moderately salinity-sensitive crops representing the three main sectors of agriculture: A) sweet corn for annual field crops, B) citrus for perennials, and C) tomato, lettuce and Chinese cabbage for greenhouse-grown vegetables.
By adding Multi-K to their nutrition program, these crops were better able to cope with salinity conditions despite higher EC levels resulting from this treatment.
The incorporation of Multi-K at 2, 8 or 14 mM in the nutrition scheme of salinized sweet corn significantly increased dry matter production and ear yield.
Salinity treatments (6.6 18 mM of Cl–) markedly increased Cl and Na contents of grapefruit leaves, thereby reducing the total yield of the trees and their canopy volumes, but had a minor effect on K content of the leaves.
By maintaining a constant concentration of 2 mM Multi-K in the irrigation water, the adverse effects of salinity treatments on the trees were avoided.
The resulting yields increased from 3 to 38%.
Salination (50 mM NaCl) of the nutrient solution of greenhouse tomatoes markedly decreased K content of the leaves, fruit-set rate, number of flowers, dry weights of the plants, fruit sizes and stem heights.
Adding Multi-K at 2, 4 or 8 mM to the salinized nutrient solution reversed these effects, despite marked increase in EC. Moreover, several vegetative parameters were improved over the non-salinized controls.
Three levels of Multi-K (1, 5 and 10 mM) were tested on salinized (52 mM of Cl–) hydroponically grown lettuce and Chinese cabbage.
The highest yields of fresh weight of both crops were obtained from the 5 mM Multi-K treatment, under both saline and non-saline conditions.
Salination increased the concentration of Na and Cl in plant tissue and reduced the levels of N and K; the opposite occurred in plants fed by the medium and high levels of Multi-K.
All the aforementioned results clearly demonstrate that plants can successfully cope with stresses imposed by 30-50 mM Na and Cl, by continuous application of Multi-K at 28 mM. A general model can explain all phenomena involved.
Publication
Authors
O. Achilea
Keywords
Cabbage, chloride, grapefruit, lettuce, maize, nitrate, peanut, potassium, sodium, tomato, yield
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