Response of two halophyte plants (Nitraria schoberi and Halocnemum strobilaceum) to potassium sulfate under saline condition

Abstract

Due to the desertification development and consequently the increase of saline lands in Iran, the use of resistant plants in such conditions to reduce its effects seems necessary. Hence, this study has tried to investigate the effect of potassium sulfate treatment on dry matter and Na and K content and physiological properties of foliar tissue of two halophyte species (Nitraria schoberi and Halocnemum strobilaceum) under different saline conditions. According to the results all studied parameters were significantly affected by plant species, potassium sulfate and NaCl treatments. Plant species and NaCl interaction and triple interaction showed significant effect on dry weight, sodium and potassium content of shoot and leaf chlorophyll content, also plant species and K2SO4 interaction has significantly effect on plant height and sodium, potassium and flavonoid content of shoots. High levels of K2SO4 treatment (135 Kg ha -1 ) significantly affected potassium content of N. schoberi in 100 and 200 mM NaCl treatments and increased its content more than 27 and 28% respectively compared with control. Also, application of K2SO4 affected accumulation of flavonoids in both plant but the response of N. schoberi still significant. According to the mean comparison, N. schoberi showed more than 12% scavenging activity than the H. strobilaceum. It seems that H. strobilaceum has strategies beyond the antioxidant capacity to adapt to the stressful environment condition, which are seemed much more efficient than increasing antioxidant capacity.

Spatial Distribution of Desert Plant Species According to Soil Salinity

“…M. Bieb. and the genus Suaeda which can be considered halophytes based on their salt-tolerating capacity and as mentioned in the literature [6][7][8]. Acacia tortilis (Forssk.)…”