Effect of salinity and water table on the mineral content of plum and peach

Abstract

The effects of combinations of salinity and water table on the mineral content of plum and peach were studied in lysimeters. Chloride content (Cl) in the leaves and the roots of plum and in the leaves of peach increased with salinity, whereas Cl in peach roots was not affected. Leaves of peach contained higher amounts of Cl than the leaves of plum. The opposite trend was observed in the roots. Sodium content (Na) increased with salinity in plum, whereas in peach it was not affected. The effect of salinity on calcium content (Ca) was not consistent in plum and peach. Potassium content (K) in the leaves of plum and peach decreased with salinity, whereas in the roots it was not affected. The Ca/K ratio in plum leaves increased with salinity, whereas in peaches it decreased in the 4000 p.p.m. treatment. Leaf phosphorus content (P) in the plum and the ‘Balady’ peach decreased with salinity, while in ‘Mit Ghamre’ peach it was not consistently affected. In plum root, P increased with salinity, whereas the effect was the opposite in peach. Magnesium content (Mg) was not significantly affected. The depth of the water table had no consistent effect on the Cl, Na, Ca, K, Ca/K ratio, P and Mg contents in the leaves and roots of plum or peach. The interaction between salinity treatments and water table levels was not significant in most cases.