THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT SALT DOSES ON YIELD AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE OF TOMATO PLANT

Abstract

The salinity is a problem in agriculture due to improper use of fertilizer, inadequate irrigation and drainage. This is one of the most important agricultural problems in many parts of the world, especially in arid and semi-arid soil ecosystems. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of different salt doses on yield and nutrient uptake of tomato plant. The study has been carried out with three replications according to the experimental pattern of randomized plots in the plastic pots with the capacity of 3 kg under the greenhouse conditions. In the study 5 salt doses were applied: 0 dS m(-1), 3 dS m(-1), 6 dS m(-1), 9 dS m(-1), 12 dS m(-1) and NaCl was used as a source of salt. The tomato plants was harvested before flowering and shoot dry weight, macro and micro elements concentrations were determined. The findings have shown that increasing salt doses decreased shoot dry weight of tomato plant. The highest shoot dry weight was determined with 37.33 g pot(-1) in 0 dS m(-1) application. Also, N, Ca, Mg, Fe and Cu concentrations were decreased with salt applications. However, the highest P and Zn concentrations were 0.159% P and 30.1 mg kg(-1) respectively with 12 dS m(-1) application. Generally, the salt applications didn't affect the yield and macro and micro element concentrations except for P and Zn of tomato plant.