PJB-2017-641
Effects of alkali salts (Na2CO3 and NaHCO3) on sorghum biomass and soil chemical properties
Tanveer Ali Sial
Abstract
Salt stress is the main inhibiting factors for the plant growth, especially in the arid and semi-arid regions. Sorghum being potential crop of salt affected areas may differ in performance with respect to concentration and type of alkali salt. This study evaluated the impact of alkali salts on shoot and root biomass of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and changes in ion contents (Na+, K+, Ca2+ + Mg2+ and K+/Na+ ratio) in the apex leaves of sorghum and soil. Greenhouse study included two salts (Na2CO3 and NaHCO3), each at two concentrations (60 and 120 mM) in addition to a control treatment for ten weeks during the Kharif season. Both salts significantly reduced the plant height (12.5-37.4%), fresh (18.3-44.8%) and dry (18.0-47.8%) fodder biomass plant-1 and root biomass (31.0-64.5%) over control, with maximum percent decrease at highest salt concentration (120 mM). The adverse effect of both salts on soil were associated with higher Na+ (16.3-122.6 g kg-1), and lower K+ (281-107 g kg-1), Ca2+ + Mg2+ (3.5-1.1 meq L-1), and K+/Na+ ratio (17.3-0.8). The poor performance of sorghum and adverse effects of both salts on soil chemical properties suggest that sorghum are moderately sensitive to lower concentration and may not grow at higher concentration. At equal concentrations the Sorghum bicolor plants seem to be more sensitive to Na2CO3 than NaHCO3 salt.
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