Morphophysiological Traits and Nitrate Content of Greenhouse Lettuce as Affected by Irrigation with Saline Water

In a 2-year study, the morphophysiological and qualitative changes imposed to greenhouse lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by an increasing concentration of NaCl in the irrigation water were determined. Plants were grown under soil conditions and supplied with irrigation water having electrical conductivities (ECs) of 0.7 (control), 0.9, 1.8, 3.6, or 7.2 dS·m−1. Irrigation with saline water resulted in linear decrease in plant growth parameters (i.e., leaf number, total leaf area and head diameter), head fresh weight, and diameter as well as yield, especially at 1.8, 3.6, and 7.2 dS·m−1, confirming that lettuce is a salt-sensitive crop. The percentage of marketable yield reduction in comparison with nonsaline control treatment was 22.7%, 36.4%, 45.4%, and 63.6% at 0.9, 1.8, 3.6, and 7.2 dS·m−1, respectively. The reduction in marketable fresh yield has been partly compensated by a decrease in the nitrate content of salt-treated lettuce. The highest values of hydrophilic antioxidant activity were recorded in the nonsalinized treatment. The lowest values of lipophylic antioxidant activity (LAA) and total ascorbic acid were observed under severe stress conditions (7.2 dS·m−1). Net CO2 assimilation rate and leaf water potential (LWP) declined with increasing NaCl concentration in the irrigation water. Increasing salinity in the irrigation water induced a reduction in stomatal conductance (gs) as LWP dropped below −0.62 MPa.

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The Impact of Salt Stress on Plant Growth, Mineral Composition, and Antioxidant Activity in Tetragonia decumbens Mill.: An Underutilized Edible Halophyte in South Africa

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae7060140 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 140

Author(s):

Avela Sogoni ◽

Muhali Jimoh ◽

Learnmore Kambizi ◽

Charles Laubscher

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Activity ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Mineral Composition ◽

Nutrient Solution ◽

Crop Production ◽

Saline Water ◽

Total Yield ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Antioxidant Power ◽

The Impact

Climate change, expanding soil salinization, and the developing shortages of freshwater have negatively affected crop production around the world. Seawater and salinized lands represent potentially cultivable areas for edible salt-tolerant plants. In the present study, the effect of salinity stress on plant growth, mineral composition (macro-and micro-nutrients), and antioxidant activity in dune spinach (Tetragonia decumbens) were evaluated. The treatments consisted of three salt concentrations, 50, 100, and 200 mM, produced by adding NaCl to the nutrient solution. The control treatment had no NaCl but was sustained and irrigated by the nutrient solution. Results revealed a significant increase in total yield, branch production, and ferric reducing antioxidant power in plants irrigated with nutrient solution incorporated with 50 mM NaCl. Conversely, an increased level of salinity (200 mM) caused a decrease in chlorophyll content (SPAD), while the phenolic content, as well as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sodium, increased. The results of this study indicate that there is potential for brackish water cultivation of dune spinach for consumption, especially in provinces experiencing the adverse effect of drought and salinity, where seawater or underground saline water could be diluted and used as irrigation water in the production of this vegetable.

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The Effect of Biostimulant and Fertilizer on “Low Input” Lettuce Production

Acta Botanica Croatica ◽

10.1515/botcro-2016-0023 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 75 (2) ◽

pp. 253-259 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Slavica Dudaš ◽

Ivana Šola ◽

Barbara Sladonja ◽

Renata Erhatić ◽

Dean Ban ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ph Value ◽

Total Yield ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Carotenoid Content ◽

Nitrate Content ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Low Input ◽

Four Seasons ◽

Adriatic Coast ◽

Lettuce Cultivar

AbstractLettuce production in the winter on the Adriatic coast, especially in a non-heated plastic tunnel, requires longer cultivation and is characterised by lower head mass and yield. In these conditions, the effect of biostimulant Bio-algeen S-90 and fertilizer Megagreen on the production of the traditional winter lettuce cultivar ‘Four Seasons’ was tested. Both treatments showed a positive effect on the growth and total yield of winter lettuce, and decreased the share of non-marketable yield. Bio-algeen S-90 treatment increased the plant height by 61.5%, and foliar treatment with Megagreen by 60.9%, as compared to the control treatment. Equally, both treatments resulted in higher leaf numbers (47.7% for Bio-algeen S-90 and 37.2% for Megagreen). The head mass of lettuce treated with Bio-algeen S-90 and Megagreen was 30.3% and 25.0% higher than in the control treatment, respectively. Megagreen contributed more to chlorophyll and carotenoid content, while Bio-algeen S-90 elevated the amount of vitamin C and dry matter. The pH value of lettuce juice decreased after Bio-algeen S-90, while the mineral content (N, P and K) did not differ between the tested treatments. Lower nitrate content was detected after both treatments. The obtained results elucidate the effect of Bio-algeen S-90 and Megagreen on “low input” lettuce production.

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Effects of Saline Water and Two Types of Plastic Mulch on Physiology and Yield of Bell Pepper Plants

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.39.4.852c ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 852C-852

Author(s):

Dagobiet Morales-Garcia* ◽

Katrine A. Stewart

Keyword(s):

Stomatal Conductance ◽

Water Consumption ◽

Fruit Development ◽

Saline Water ◽

Bare Soil ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Control Value ◽

Bell Peppers

In order to examine the effects of saline water (0.2, 1.5, 4.0, 6.5 and 9.0 dS·m-1) without or with plastic mulch (black or green infrared transmitting) on the physiology and yield of bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L. var. Red Night), plants were drip irrigated and grown in greenhouse conditions. Salinity did not significantly decrease the rate of photosynthesis until fruit set after which irrigation with 6.5 and 9.0 dS·m-1 reduced rates by 35%-38% and during fruit development by 50% compared with the control treatment. Plants receiving 4.0 dS·m-1 had significantly lower (30%) photosynthetic rates than the control during fruit development. Stomatal conductance decreased as the rate of salinity increased which in turn affected transpiration. No consistent differences in photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration rates were obtained with or without plastic mulch. The marketable yield was negatively affected as salinity increased having being reduced by 17%, 64%, 96%, and 100% for saline treatments compared with the control. The number of fruit of fruit per plant was significantly lower at rates of 4.0 dS·m-1 or higher. No significant differences were detected among plastic mulches and non-mulch condition in marketable yield and number of fruits. Water consumption decreased as salinity level increased with decreases of 11%, 20%, 38%, and 52% of the control value. Mulching the soil reduced water consumption by 30% compared with bare soil.

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Effect of Pterocladia capillacea Seaweed Extracts on Growth Parameters and Biochemical Constituents of Jew’s Mallow

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10030420 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 420 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mohamed Ashour ◽

Ahmed A. El-Shafei ◽

Hanan M. Khairy ◽

Doaa Y. Abd-Elkader ◽

Mohamed A. Mattar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Irrigation Water ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Growth Parameters ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Growth Yield ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Water Extraction ◽

Yield Response ◽

Yield Reduction ◽

Initial Growth

We performed field experiments to evaluate the influence of two extraction treatments, seaweed (Pterocladia capillacea S.G. Gmelin) water extraction (WE) and ultrasound-assisted water extraction (USWE) at three concentrations (5%, 10%, and 15%), as well as control NPK traditional mineral fertilizer on the growth, yield, minerals, and antioxidants of Jew’s Mallow (Corchorus olitorius L.) during the two seasons of 2016 and 2017 in Egypt. Plant height, number of leaves, and fresh weight of WE10 treatment were the highest (p < 0.05) as 59.67 cm, 10.67 and 2.41 kg m−2 in 2016, respectively, and 57.33 cm, 11.00 and 2.32 kg m−2 in 2017, respectively. WE10 and USWE5 treatments produced the highest dry matter (17.07%) in 2016 and (16.97%) in 2017, respectively. WE10 plants had an increased water productivity of 41.2% relative to control plants in both seasons. The highest chlorophyll ‘a’ was recorded after the WE10 treatment in 2016 and 2017 (17.79 μg g−1 and 17.84 μg g−1, respectively). The highest levels of total antioxidant capacity, total phenolics, and total flavonoids were also recorded after the WE10 treatment. Application of WE10 boosted growth, yield, minerals, and antioxidants of Jew’s Mallow. The CROPWAT model was used to estimate the evapotranspiration, irrigation water requirements, and yield response to irrigation scheduling. Our data showed a yield reduction in the initial growth stage if a limited amount of water was provided. Therefore, irrigation water should be provided during the most important stages of crop development with the choice of effective irrigation practices to avoid water losses, as this helps to maximize yield.

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Adopting adequate leaching requirement for practical response models of basil to salinity

International Agrophysics ◽

10.1515/intag-2016-0002 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 275-283 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hossein Babazadeh ◽

Mahdi Sarai Tabrizi ◽

Hossein Hassanpour Darvishi

Keyword(s):

Mathematical Models ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Root Zone ◽

Root Water Uptake ◽

Water Salinity ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Yield Reduction ◽

Irrigation Water Salinity ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Saturated Extract

Abstract Several mathematical models are being used for assessing plant response to salinity of the root zone. Objectives of this study included quantifying the yield salinity threshold value of basil plants to irrigation water salinity and investigating the possibilities of using irrigation water salinity instead of saturated extract salinity in the available mathematical models for estimating yield. To achieve the above objectives, an extensive greenhouse experiment was conducted with 13 irrigation water salinity levels, namely 1.175 dS m−1 (control treatment) and 1.8 to 10 dS m−1. The result indicated that, among these models, the modified discount model (one of the most famous root water uptake model which is based on statistics) produced more accurate results in simulating the basil yield reduction function using irrigation water salinities. Overall the statistical model of Steppuhn et al. on the modified discount model and the math-empirical model of van Genuchten and Hoffman provided the best results. In general, all of the statistical models produced very similar results and their results were better than math-empirical models. It was also concluded that if enough leaching was present, there was no significant difference between the soil salinity saturated extract models and the models using irrigation water salinity.

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Emergence, growth, and flowering of castor beans as a function of the cationic composition of irrigation water

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2016v37n2p651 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 651 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Geovani Soares de Lima ◽

Hans Raj Gheyi ◽

Reginaldo Gomes Nobre ◽

Diego Azevedo Xavier ◽

Lauriane Almeida dos Anjos Soares ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Irrigation Water ◽

Castor Bean ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Saline Water ◽

Block Design ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Time Interval ◽

Inflorescence Development ◽

Cationic Composition ◽

Bean Cultivar

The use of saline water in agriculture has contributed to the expansion of irrigated areas, especially in arid and semiarid regions, where water deficits occur during various months of the year. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the emergence, growth, and flowering of the castor bean cultivar “BRS Energia” as a function of the cationic composition of irrigation water, including water containing single and multiple types of cations. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in the municipality of Campina Grande-PB, Brazil using drainage lysimeters filled with a sandy loam Ultisol. The experiment was set in a randomized block design, with four replicates each of six water salinity treatments: Control; Na+; Ca2+; Na+ + Ca2+; K+; and Na+ + Ca2+ + Mg2, totaling 24 experimental plots, each consisting of five plants. Plants in the control treatment were subjected to irrigation using water having low electrical conductivity (ECw = 0.6 dS m-1), while the plants receiving other treatments were irrigated using 4.5 dS m-1 water containing different ions. Emergence and growth were more affected by the ECw than by the cationic composition of the irrigation water. The order of the cations in the irrigation water, in terms of negative effects, was Na+ > Na+ + Ca+ > Ca2+ > Na+ + Ca2+ + Mg2+ > K+. The cationic composition of the irrigation water influenced the time interval for inflorescence development and the opening of flower buds of the castor bean cultivar “BRS Energia”, and the most pronounced effects were observed in plants irrigated with calcic water.

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Tolerance of melon cultivars to irrigation water salinity

Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental ◽

10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v21n12p846-851 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 21 (12) ◽

pp. 846-851 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Francisco A. de L. Pereira ◽

José F. de Medeiros ◽

Hans R. Gheyi ◽

Nildo da S. Dias ◽

Welka Preston ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Irrigation Water ◽

High Salinity ◽

Saline Water ◽

Block Design ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Water Salinity ◽

Yield Reduction ◽

Balance Growth ◽

Irrigation Water Salinity

ABSTRACT The use of saline water for irrigation causes severe restriction to nutritional balance, growth and production in many crops due to the effect of salts on plant and soil. The objective of this study was to investigate the response of melon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars to various levels of irrigation water salinity on yield and fruit quality. A field experiment was conducted in a split-plot randomized block design with four replicates. The factors were five levels of irrigation water salinity (0.54, 1.48, 2.02, 3.03 and 3.90 dS m-1) in the plots and five melon cultivars (C1 - Sancho - Pele de sapo; C2 - Medellín - Pele de sapo; C3 - Mandacaru - Canary; C4 - Néctar - Galia; C5 - Sedna - Cantaloupe) in the sub-plots. According to the results, among the five genotypes studied, Sancho was the most salt-tolerant genotype, followed by Mandacaru, Medellín, Sedna and Néctar. Since irrigation water salinity did not influence the mean fruit weight, the reduction in the number of fruits was the main cause of yield reduction of the melon crop under high salinity water. The contents of total soluble solids increased under high salinity level.

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Partial Root Zone Drying Application in the Propagation of Vegetable in Northern Nigeria

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.367.831 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 367 ◽

pp. 831-838

Author(s):

Olufemi P. Abimbola ◽

Temitayo A. Ewemoje

Keyword(s):

Root System ◽

Water Use ◽

Root Zone ◽

Growth Parameters ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Water Requirement ◽

Crop Water Requirement ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Yield Reduction ◽

Crop Water

This study compares the response of Amaranthus candatus vegetable to root-to-shoot signals of soil drying and assesses applicability of the use of partial root zone drying (PRD) technique in increasing water-use efficiency. From a completely block randomized design, seeds were grown on three plots with each having three replicates. Three treatments were compared: half of the root system watered and half droughted by delivering 50% less crop water requirement (CWR) per irrigation depicted as 50%PRD; both halves of the root system received water application of 50% less crop water requirement per irrigation (50%CWR); while in the control treatment, both halves received 100% crop water requirement (100%CWR). The wetted and dried sides of the root system of 50%PRD were alternated on a 7-day cycle throughout experimental period. Effects of the differences in water-use on growth parameters, such as plant height, stem girth; number of leaves and leaf area were examined. Weights at harvest and root-to-shoot ratios were also compared. Drying half of the root system caused marked declines in all growth parameters in 50%CWR but only slight declines in 50%PRD. Since the main effect of water stress on Amaranthus is yield reduction, achieving better yields requires an optimum water supply from planting until ripening. Average edible wet weights (yields) of the 50%PRD and 50%CWR water applications when compared with the control were 81% and 25% respectively. The higher yield in 50%PRD may be attributed to high stomata sensitivity to drought signaling, as indicated by relatively low root to shoot ratio of 0.33. This lower ratio for 50%PRD treatment, compared to 50%CWR and 100%CWR with 0.40 and 0.66 values, was an indication of healthier and more profitable plants in 50%PRD because the decrease came from a greater shoot size.

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Saline water irrigation in semiarid region: II – effects on growth and nutritional status of onions

Australian Journal of Crop Science ◽

10.21475/ajcs.19.13.07.p1687 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1177-1182

Author(s):

Luiz Guilherme Medeiros Pessoa ◽

Maria Betânia Galvão dos Santos Freire ◽

Renato Lemos dos Santos ◽

Fernando José Freire ◽

Patrícia Ribeiro dos Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electrical Conductivity ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Growth Parameters ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Saline Water ◽

Sodium Adsorption Ratio ◽

Semiarid Region ◽

Brazilian Semiarid ◽

Saline Waters ◽

Onion Cultivar

The use of saline waters for the irrigation of crops such as onion is a common practice in the Brazilian semiarid region. However, the effect of the use of these waters on onion nutrition and growth has been underappreciated. This work aims to evaluate Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+ and Cl- levels and onion growth in two Fluvisols under irrigation with waters of variable electrical conductivity and increasing values of sodium adsorption ratio. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in two Fluvisols cultivated with onion. After transplanting each plant was irrigated with saline waters, in a factorial arrangement 2 x 3 x 6, corresponding to two soils (sandy loam and silt clay loam), three values of electrical conductivity (EC - 200, 700 and 2,000 μS cm-1) and six levels of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR - 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 (mmolc L-1)0.5). Plants were collected at 90 days after transplanting and onion growth parameters as well Ca, Mg, K, Na and Cl levels were each measured. The SAR of the irrigation waters and the soil did not show any significant influence on the onion growth variables or on the levels of the evaluated elements. The increase in salinity of the irrigation water promoted a reduction in the growth variables of the evaluated onion cultivar. Increases in the levels of Ca, Na and Cl as well as a reduction in the level of K in the onion plant dry matter were all observed with increasing salinity of the irrigation water; however, the Mg content level was not affected. As the salinity of the irrigation water was the main factor affecting onion growth, an EC of 200 µS cm-1 is the limit to promote the best onion growth cultivated in both sandy and silt clay soils.

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Physiological Responses of Pepper to Salinity and Drought

Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science ◽

10.21273/jashs.128.1.0048 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 128 (1) ◽

pp. 48-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 66

Author(s):

Stefania De Pascale ◽

Celestino Ruggiero ◽

Giancarlo Barbieri ◽

Albino Maggio

Keyword(s):

Drought Stress ◽

Salt Tolerance ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Saline Water ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Dry Matter Accumulation ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Saline Irrigation ◽

Root Shoot Ratio

Production of vegetable crops can be limited by saline irrigation water. The variability of crop salt tolerance under different environmental conditions requires species-specific and environment-specific field evaluations of salt tolerance. Data on field performances of vegetable crops grown on soils that have been irrigated with saline water for many years are lacking. In this study we analyzed the long-term effect of irrigation with saline water on soil properties and on responses of field-grown pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants in these soils. Yield, gas exchanges, water relations, and solute accumulation were measured in plants grown under three different irrigation treatments: a nonsalinized control (ECw = 0.5 dS·m-1) and two concentrations of commercial sea salt, corresponding to ECw of 4.4 and 8.5 dS·m-1, respectively. In addition, a nonwatered drought stress treatment was included. Irrigation water with an EC of 4.4 dS·m-1 resulted in 46% reduction in plant dry weight (leaves plus stem) and 25% reduction in marketable yield. Increasing the electrical conductivity of the irrigation water to 8.5 dS·m-1 caused a 34% reduction in plant dry weight and a 58% reduction in marketable yield. Leaf and root cellular turgor and net CO2 assimilation rates of leaves in salt-stressed plants decreased along with a reduction in leaf area and dry matter accumulation. High concentrations of Na+ and Cl- in the irrigation water did not significantly alter the level of K+ in leaves and fruit. In contrast, drought stressed plants had higher concentrations of leaf K+ compared to well watered control plants. These results indicate that Na+ and K+ may play similar roles in maintaining cellular turgor under salinity and drought stress, respectively. The regulation of ion loading to the shoots was most likely functionally associated with physiological modifications of the root/shoot ratio that was substantially smaller in salinized vs. drought stressed plants. From an agronomic perspective, irrigation with moderately saline water (4.4 dS·m-1) it is recommendable, compared to no irrigation, to obtain an acceptable marketable yield in the specific environment considered.

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