Growth and chemical composition of pistachio seedlings as influenced by irrigation regimes and salinity levels of irrigation water. II. Chemical composition

Abstract

SummaryThe effects of irrigation intervals of 1, 3 and 7 days and salinity levels of the irrigation water of 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 mmhos cm−1 on the chemical composition of local pistachio cvs Fandoghi and Badami were studied under glasshouse conditions. Chemical analyses indicated that the salinity level and irrigation regime affected the uptake and distribution of various nutrients in different ways. The accumulation of CI and Na ions increased with a rise in the salinity level but was generally less with less frequent irrigation. In both cultivars Na accumulation was more pronounced in the root than in the leaf or stem, whereas the reverse was noted for CI ions. Increasing salinity had no definite effects on N, P, K, Ca or Mg contents except that the root K concentration was reduced whereas, unlike Na, K accumulated markedly in the leaf. In general, cv Badami had a greater tendency than cv Fandoghi to accumulate most of the nutrients under saline conditions. The results are discussed with respect ...