Salinity Reduction and Biomass Accumulation in Hydroponic Growth of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

Abstract

In many of the world's semi-arid and arid regions, the increase in demand for good quality water associated with the gradual and irreversible salinisation of the soil and water have raised the development of techniques that facilitate the safe use of brackish and saline waters for agronomic purposes. This study aimed to evaluate the salinity reduction of experimental saline solutions through the ions uptake capability of purslane (Portulaca oleracea), as well as its biomass accumulation. The hydroponic system used contained three different nutrient solutions composed of fixed concentrations of macro and micronutrients to which three different concentrations of sodium chloride had been added. Two conditions were tested, clipped and intact plants. It was observed that despite there being a notable removal of magnesium and elevated biomass accumulation, especially in the intact plants, purslane did not present the expected removal quantity of sodium and chloride. We confirmed that in the research conditions of the present study, purslane is a saline-tolerant species but accumulation of sodium and chloride was not shown as previously described in the literature.

Keywords:

• phytoremediation
• saline water
• salt uptake
• soilless cultivation

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Technical School of the Federal University of Minas Gerais–UFMG (MSc. Lúcia Maria Porto de Paula), Agricultural Research Agency of Minas Gerais–EPAMIG (Dr. Marinalva Woods Pedrosa), Research Support Agency of the State of Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) and Coordination of Higher Education Development (CAPES) for support of this study. Thanks also to Alistair Hayward for critical review of the English text.