Abstract
Despite the economic importance of pistachio (Pistasia vera L.) crop, very little information is available on its water needs and nutrient requirements. Therefore, the effects of three irrigation frequencies (1, 3, and 7 d) and five potassium (K) levels (0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 mg kgâ 1) on the plant water relations and growth of three pistachio cultivars (âBadami,â âGhazvini,â and âSarakhsâ) were studied in a greenhouse experiment. After 30 weeks, the dry weights of leaves, stems, and roots were measured and the total leaf area determined together with the number of leaves per pot and stem height. The effect of water frequency and K application on the leaf water potential, osmotic potential, and turgor potential was studied. Water frequency decreased all of the above growth parameters. Shoot dry weights were reduced by 50% and 68% for âBadami,â 42% and 66% for âGhazvini,â and 26% and 46% for âSarakhsâ at the three and seven-day irrigation intervals, respectively. Root dry weights were significantly reduced by 27% and 47% for âBadami,â 18% and 48% for âGhazvini,â and 10% and 28% for âSarakhsâ at the three and seven-day irrigation intervals, respectively. Leaf water potential, and turgor potential were unexpectedly increased by increase in water frequency. However, water frequency decreased leaf osmotic potential. The K application had no significant effect on the leaf water potential, osmotic potential, and turgor potential. It seems that NH4OAc-extractable K (70 mg kgâ 1) was probably sufficient for optimum seedling growth of pistachio. Furthermore, âSarakhsâ proved to be the cultivar most tolerant to drought stress in the present study.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have