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ABSTRACT
Fertilization management is a requested tool to limit the impact of salt stress on crops grown in saline conditions. The influence of saline irrigation water on the nutrient status of forage corn and fodder beet was studied in sandy soil. The experiments were conducted in containers during two seasons. Five water electrical conductivity levels were tested: 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 ds.m−1. The water of 0.7 ds.m−1 was considered as a control. The tested salinity levels were obtained by adding sodium chloride (NaCl) to the control water. The results showed that the biomass of forage corn and fodder beet was significantly reduced by water salinity. The nutrient status of the tested crops showed a significant increase in phosphorus (P) contents with water conductivity. The increase in P content exceeded 13% and 11% for corn and fodder beet, respectively, at conductivity level over 4 ds.m−1 compared to control. The plant potassium (K) content was significantly unaffected by saline water. The absorption of micronutrients (iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and boron (B)) was not significantly depressed by salinity. A disturbance in magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) absorption was noticed on both studied crops. The results reveal that fertilization management can be improved by considering the nutrient status shifting established at the saline conditions.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the Moroccan Laboratory of Agriculture “LABOMAG” and the Agricultural Training and Research Center for financial support. We wish to thank Dr. Asfers A., Mr. Lamghari M., Mr. Ajbiri M., and Mr. Labiad M. for their valuable help and cooperation in conducting the experiments.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.