Influence of Calcium, Potassium and Salicylic Acid Application on Nutrient Ratios and Yield of Turnip and Chard Grown in Saline Soil

Abstract

Soil salinity stress is a major problem for enhancing crop production and agricultural sustainability in arid and semiarid regions. In Egypt the area of irrigated land that is salt-affected is 33%. Field experiments was conducted at farmer's field, Koom Oshim, El–Fayoum governorate, Egypt during two successive seasons based on factorial completely randomized block design with three replicate. The research work aimed to study the effect of various levels of calcium (0 and 40kg fed-1), potassium (0, 40 and 80kg fed-1) combined with the foliar application of salicylic acid (0 and 0.05mM) on growth, yield, chlorophyll and nutrient content of Turnip and Chard grown in saline soil. The highest growth and yield parameter represented by root and shoot of Turnip and Chard was obtained with 40kg fed-1 applied calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) combined with 0.05mM salicylic acid (SA) as compared with same levels of Ca and K without SA and control treatment. At 40 days of sowing, Chlorophyll a and Chlorophyll b and carotene of Turnip and Chard significantly increased by Ca and K combined with SA application. Sodium (Na) accumulation in root and shoot of both Turnip and Chard decreased due to Ca and K application. K+, Na+, Ca++, ratios and selectivity increased in plant shoot due to decrease the Na accumulation in shoot as affected by Ca, K and SA application. Results concluded that Turnip and Chard could tolerate the soil salinity and produce higher yield under balanced application of Calcium and potassium combined with salicylic acid.