Effect of fertilization on yield and phenology of the halophyte Sarcocornia neei as an emerging crop

Abstract

Sarcocornia is a vegetable crop that can be irrigated with highly saline water. The objective of this research was to evaluate the yield and study the phenology of the halophyte Sarcocornia neei as an emerging crop. Trials were established in a tunnel-type greenhouse and the open field, both including the same fertilizer treatments with two doses of N (40 and 80 g N per plant). The plants were harvested three times by collecting all vegetative parts located 5 cm above the soil. Four plants per replicate were observed once a week to determine the phenological stages through the seasons in Chile (fall, spring, and summer). A two-way analysis of variance was performed for the experimental data that revealed differences between treatments and trials. The yields were significantly different between the open field and greenhouse trials in all seasons. The summer and spring harvests obtained the highest yields in treatments with 40 g N per plant. The highest yield was obtained in the greenhouse trial with 40 g N per plant at the summer harvest (45.33 g dry matter per plant). The open field trial showed no differences between the fertilizer treatments in all seasons. According to the plant phenology, the greenhouse cultivation was found to be advantageous in causing the plants to avoid the winter dormant period. The yield of S. neei under greenhouse conditions is the basis for further research.