The Effects of a Hydrogel Polymer on the Growth of Certain Horticultural Crops under Saline Conditions

The effects of incorporating a hydrogel polymer into sand on the development of selected horticultural plants grown under saline conditions has been demonstrated. In separate experiments, the seeds of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of experimental botany 1991-07, Vol.42 (240), p.891-899
Main Authors: EL SAYED, HAMEDA, KIRKWOOD, R. C., GRAHAM, N. B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Amino acids
Biological and medical sciences
Chlorophylls
Cucumbers
Deficiencies. Phytotoxicity of elements. Salinity
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General agronomy. Plant production
Hydrogels
Pigments
Plant growth
Plants
Polymers
Salinity
Soil salinity
Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments
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Summary:The effects of incorporating a hydrogel polymer into sand on the development of selected horticultural plants grown under saline conditions has been demonstrated. In separate experiments, the seeds of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were germinated in sand/swollen hydrogel polymer mixture (25:75, v:v) with added Hoagland nutrient solution. At cotyledon + first true leaf stage, the plantlets were transplanted into polythene growbags containing a range of sand/swollen hydrogel polymer combinations (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0, v:v). Saline solutions containing NaCl, CaCl2 and MgCl2 were prepared as molar solutions and applied at combined concentrations as follows; Control (Hoagland), 2000, 4000, 8000, and 32000 ppm. Application of the appropriate solution to the growbags was made twice per week, alternating with a comparable watering regime. Harvesting was carried out after 14 and 28 d. Polymer incorporation encouraged growth of all species under all saline conditions, the order of effectiveness of the polymer contents being as follows; 75% > 50% > 25% > 100% > 0%. At high salinity (32000 ppm) plants of the test species were reduced in growth but appeared to be tolerant at all levels of polymer incorporation; in pure sand the level of tolerance in tomato and cucumber was
ISSN:0022-0957
1460-2431