Effects of CaCo3 on alfalfa salinity tolerance

Subject Areas : Agroecology Journal

Mehrdad Yarnia ¹ (Assist. Prof., Tabriz Islamic Azad Univ., Tabriz)
Hossein Heydari Sharif Abad ² (Reasearch Assoc. Prof., Tehran)
Farrokh Rahimzadeh Khoiy ³ (Prof., Tabriz Univ. Tabriz)

Received: 2005-08-02 Accepted : 2005-12-14 Published : 2006-01-21

Keywords: alfalfa, salinity tolerance, CaCO3, nutrient solution,

Abstract :

   Alfalfa is the most important forage crop. High adaptivity to unfavorable environment conditions; high genetic diversity and high yield quality and quantity make alfalfa the most planted crop in world humid and dryland fileds. One of the most important factors which decrease yield and cultivation is soil and water salinity. Selection for tolerant genotypes with correct culture managment lead to increase yield and cultivation in country’s saline conditions. Adding Ca2+ to soil solution by its antagonistic effects on Na+ leads to decrease toxic effect of Na+.  Therefore 4 cultivars Golestan (20313), Sistan and Bluchestan, F.A.O (2566) and Ahar Hamedani of alfalfa arranged in an experiment to study of CaCO3 effect of growth and yield in saline conditions. Experiment was conducted in RCBD based factoriel in 5 salinity levels in 3 replicates at hydroponic culture. The cultivars grown in saline condition till cutting and then pots leached with distilled water then salinity and CaCO3 levels were used in Hougland nutrient solution. Data was collected after cutting shoot, root, stem and leaf dry weight, biomass, plant height, main root length, main stem internod number and tiller number per plant measured.  All of characters showed significant differencies at salinity and Ca2+ interaction except plant height.  Yield had the most significant correlate with stem dry weight in salinity (R2=0.962). Using CaCO3 decrease the salinity effect on measured characterys, especially in resistant cultivars.  Golestan (20313) and F.A.O (2566) Cultivars had the most yield in Ca2+ + saline conditions.

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