Salinity Level Influenced Morpho-physiology and Nutrient Uptake of Young Citrus Rootstocks
Soil and irrigation water salinity are major limiting factor to citrus industry in arid environments. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of different salt stress levels on growth and ion uptake of three-month-old citrus rootstocks; sour orange (Citrus aurantium) and Volkamer lemon (Citrus volkameriana). Six levels of NaCl-salinity were used, 0.7 (control), 2, 4, 8, 12 and 15 dS m-1. Salinity increment from 2.0 to 15.0 dS m-1 significantly reduced seedlings height, stem diameter, leaf area, root dry weight, leaf relative water content, chlorophyll content index and chlorophyll fluorescence by one to three folds. In addition, leaf and root N concentration reduced by 10%–50%, P 6%–50%, K 8%–47%, Ca+2 7%–51% and Mg+2 7%–50% when salt stress in the irrigation water increased from 2.0 to 15.0 dS m-1.
