Salinity Versus Putrescine and Calcium and Its Effects on Growth and Mineral Status of Jatropha Plants

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 National Research Centre, Agricultural and Biological Research Institute, Water Relations and Field Irrigation Department, Cairo, Egypt

2 Water Relations and Field Irrigation Dept., Agricultural and Biological Research Institute, NRC, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt

3 Soils and Water Use Dept., Agricultural and Biological Research Institute, NRC, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted in the greenhouse of the National Research Centre in Cairo, Egypt, during the summer of 2023 to study the effects of growth regulators and calcium on the growth of Jatropha plants under saline conditions. Plants were irrigated with saline water at concentrations of 200, 2500, and 5000 ppm. After 21 and 35 days, the plants were treated with 200 ppm putrescine, a combination of 200 ppm putrescine and 200 ppm calcium nitrate, and distilled water as a control. The results showed that saline irrigation reduced plant growth and biomass compared to freshwater irrigation. The most significant effect was observed at high salinity levels (5000 ppm) compared to moderate levels (2500 ppm). Nitrogen concentration decreased as salinity increased, while potassium and magnesium levels rose at moderate salinity but declined at higher concentrations. The opposite trend was observed for phosphorus. Freshwater irrigation, combined with foliar application of 200 ppm putrescine and calcium nitrate, improved plant growth, although this effect diminished under saline conditions. Sodium concentration decreased with the use of growth regulators compared to the control. The integration of calcium and polyamines proved to be an effective approach to mitigating the negative effects of salinity on plant growth. Nutrient adjustments should be tailored to specific salt levels and environmental conditions to improve plant resistance.

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