Interactive effect of different salinity sources and their formulations on plant growth, ionic homeostasis and seed quality of maize. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Javed, Syed Ayyaz; Shahzad, Sher Muhammad; Ashraf, Muhammad; Kausar, Rizwana; Arif, Muhammad Saleem; Albasher, Gadah; Rizwana, Humira; Shakoor, Awais
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 291:Part 1(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Salinity levels -- Salt types -- Mix formulation -- Seed quality -- Zea mays L; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132678
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Soil salinity is one of the most pernicious environmental hazards affecting crop growth and productivity in arid and semi-arid climates. In saline soils, the crop plants encounter nutrients deficient conditions mainly due to antagonistic affinity of sodium (Na + ) and chloride (Cl − ). The accumulation of salts in the rhizosphere restricts plant growth, the severity of which depends on the source and concentration of the salt. Therefore, we hypothesized that sodium containing salts could have toxic effects on maize plants either in a single or in combined form. To evaluate the interactive effect of sodium salts on plant growth, ionic homeostasis, and seed quality attributes, a pot study was performed using maize as a test plant at the research area of the College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha. Selected salts including, NaCl, Na2 SO4 and their combination (NaCl + Na2 SO4 ), were applied in equal ratio for different salinity levels (7, 10, 13 and 16 dS m −1 ) and the untreated control. The results show that all the measured growth, yield, biochemical and quality attributes of maize were negatively affected with increasing concentration of all the salt sources; however, severity of these effects were more intense when NaCl was applied at all salinity levels. It is concluded that all salts (NaCl, Na2 SO4 and NaCl + Na2 SO4 ) had negative effects on biochemical, qualitative, growth and yield characteristics of maize plant. Most importantly, NaCl was found to be more harmful compared to Na2 SO4 and mixtures of both salts due to the dominance of Na+ and Cl - ions. Among all salinity levels, the more detrimental effects of NaCl occurred at salinity level of 16 dS m −1 . Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A pot study was established for evaluation of salinity sources and their formulations at different levels. Higher salinity increased the Na: K ratio in maize tissues, and caused reduction in yield. NaCl was more toxic than Na2 SO4 for maize and mixture of both at all salinity levels.