Growth and Chemical Composition of Pistachio Affected by Salinities and Depths of Water Table

Abstract

Pistachio may be grown around the central desert of I.R. Iran with adverse conditions such as shallow saline water tables, which limit its growth and production. The effects of saline (13 dS m−1) and non-saline (0.5 dS m−1) shallow water table depths of 30, 60, 90, and 120 cm under irrigated and not irrigated conditions on growth and chemical composition of a local pistachio cultivar (Badami–Zarandi) were studied in a greenhouse experiment. The results indicated that appropriate growth of pistachio may occur at water table depth of 60 cm under irrigated condition. Only at this depth, the difference in plant growth between irrigated and not irrigated conditions were significant, and low plant growth was obtained at not irrigated condition. At saline water table (13 dS m−1) and not irrigated condition water table depth should be kept below 60 cm for normal pistachio production.