Effects of CaSO4 and NaCl on growth and nitrogen fixation ofLeucaena leucocephala

Abstract

Effects and interactions of varying CaSO4 and NaCl levels on growth and nitrogen fixation ofLeucaena leucocephala K8 were examined. Leucaena was grown in nutrient solution at four levels of CaSO4 (0.5, 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mM) and NaCl (1, 25, 50 and 100 mM) in randomized blocks with five replications. While NaCl significantly reduced plant growth, additions of CaSO4 increased plant height, leaf number, and biomass of salt treated plants. For the nonsaline treatments, high CaSO4 levels slightly depressed growth, which contradicts suggestions that Leucaena has a high calcium requirement. A significant calcium/sodium interaction was not seen for nodule number or weight. Nodule number was significantly depressed by 100 mM NaCl and nodule weight of the salt stressed plants significantly increased as CaSO4 concentration increased from 0.5 to 2.5 mM. Effects of NaCl and CaSO4 on nitrogen content of plant parts were inconclusive. The promotion of Leucaena salinity tolerance by addition of CaSO4 may be attributed to the effect of calcium in maintaing the selective permeability of membranes.