ALLEVIATION OF SALINITY TOLERANCE BY FERTILIZATION IN FOUR THORN FOREST SPECIES FOR THE RECLAMATION OF SALT-AFFECTED SITES

作者：Sharif Faiza^*; Khan Amin U

来源：Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2009, 41(6): 2901-2915.

Salinity tolerance and the effect of salinity-fertility interaction on growth and dry matter production of four native thorn forest species viz., Salvadora oleoides Decne., Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce., Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew. and Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karsten) was assessed by conducting a pot experiment. Treatments included a combination of 5 levels of salinity (0.65, 5.8, 10.69, 20.71 and 30.4 mS cm(-1)) and two levels of fertility (control and with addition of 100 kg N ha(-1) and 60 kg P ha(-1)) using a factorial design with five replications. The results showed a negative linear relationship between gain in plant height, dry matter production and increasing salinity under both low and increased fertility treatments but the effect was more pronounced under low fertility. All plant characters decreased with increasing salinity levels and were enhanced with increasing fertility. All tree species seemed to be salt tolerant to varying degrees. EC(e) value at which dry matter production would be reduced to 50% as compared to un-fertilized control plants was highest for S. oleoides followed by P. cineraria, T. aphylla and C. decidua under low fertility and this sequence of decreasing salt tolerance was maintained when plants were supplemented by fertilizers. The interaction between salinity and fertility was significant for all plant parameters suggesting that addition of fertilizers can effectively be used as a restoration strategy to alleviate adverse effects of salinity and to support plant growth under saline conditions.

• 出版日期2009-12