Response of Suaeda aegyptiaca to KCl, NaCl and Na2SO4 treatments

The response of Suaeda aegyptiaca (Hasselq.) Zoh. to various salinity treatments was tested in sand culture. Growth was promoted by NaCl and by Na2SO4 at all tested concentrations, but not by KCl. The effect of NaCl on growth was stronger than that of Na2SO4 and it increased gradually up to a 125 eq. m−3 optimum. Ion uptake was also affected by the different salts. Cl− was taken up in similar quantities from KCl and from NaCl solutions and the content of the respective cations was also similar to one another. The presence of Na+ in the medium lowered the content of K+ in the plants and at the same time increased growth by as much as 900%. Transpiration was reduced and water use efficiency increased by Na+-salts. Highest water use efficiency was exhibited by plants which were treated with 125 eq. m−3 NaCl. It is concluded that Na+ at the macronutrient level has a specific promotive effect on the physiological processes of S. aegyptiaca. This effect is not due to replacement of K+ by Na+; neither can it be achieved by increasing the K+ concentration. Cl− has an additional positive effect on growth of S. aegyptiaca. This effect is only expressed in the presence of Na+.

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