Physiological Responses of Eucalyptus Under Saline Environment. I: Ionic Composition in Selected Salt Tolerant and Salt Sensitive Provenances of Eucalyptus Camaldulensis

Abstract

An experiment was conducted with the two provenances of Eucalyptus camaldulensis (tolerant = SL2 and sensitive= SL4) selected from the previous studies to scrutinize the ionic content and growth under saline environments using gravel technique. It was observed that plant height, shoot and root fresh and dry weight and stem diameter decreased with the increase in salinity levels in both the provenances upto 2% NaCI, However reduction was more clear in salt sensitive provenance of Eucalyptus camaldulensis. The chemical analysis for different ion showed that Na + increased in shoot and root in both the provenances of Eucalyptus. However root contain more Na + in both provenances under all salt treatments. The other ions such as K + , Ca ++ decreased with the application of salinity. The reduction was more pronounced in sensitive provenance. In case of P reduction was observed with salinity but it was not up to the deficient mark. The N contents severely decreased with salinity in shoot and root of both the provenances, however N contents are less in salt sensitive provenance under all treatment in shoot as well as root.