Long-term responses of Melilotus segetalis to salinity. II. Nutrient absorption and utilization
Specific absorption rates (SAR) and specific utilization rates (SUR) of sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphate ions were determined for Melilotus segetalis (Brot.) Ser. (annual sweetclover) grown under both control and salinized conditions (NaCl treatment of CE=15 dS m−1) for a complete life cycle with sequential harvests. The behaviour over time of the SARs and SURs of the mineral elements was in general correlated with relative growth rate (RGR) kinetics, with a parabolic trend during the vegetative phase and a progressive linear decrease during the reproductive stage. Salinity significantly reduced the SARs of K and Mg but did not affect the SARs of Ca and P during the vegetative phase. During the reproductive stage, however, the SARs of K, Ca and P of salt-stressed plants were higher than in control plants. The similar SARs of total cations (TC) found in control and salt-stressed plants may indicate compensatory mechanisms to maintain a constant total cation content. Salt-stressed plants showed lower SURs of K, Ca and P during the vegetative phase, and lower SURs of K and P but a higher SUR of Mg during the reproductive stage. A nutrient imbalance, caused by a lower root efficiency in absorbing K and Mg and a lower leaf efficiency in producing biomass per unit of K, Ca and P, apparently contributed to the salt-induced reduction in growth during the vegetative phase of M. segetalis. The switch to non-reduced, compensated growth during the reproductive phase may have been caused by a higher nutrient demand which increased the root efficiency in absorbing K, Ca and P and the leaf efficiency in utilizing Mg.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | artículo biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley-Blackwell
1994-11
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| Subjects: | Melilotus segetalis, Annual sweetclover, Fabaceae, NaCl, Salinity, Specific absorption rate, Specific utilization rate, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/54814 |
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