Effects of salt composition and concentration in soil on salt quantity in plant and secreted salt of Tamarix austromongolica N.

Abstract

Tamarix austromongolica Nakai is distributed from north China to Mongolia, and has high salt tolerance. In this study, effects of salt composition in soil on the salt composition in plant and secreted salt of, T. austromongolica were examined using the cuttings grown at salinities of 10,000 ppm (NaCl : CaCl₂ = 2:2), 7,500 ppm (NaCl : CaCl₂ = 2:1) and 7,500 ppm (NaCl : CaCl₂ = 1:2) of irrigated water. 1:2 treatment had more Ca²⁺ in soil than other treatments. In 1:2 treatment which had higher Ca²⁺ concentration in soil than other treatments, Na⁺ concentration in plants was lower than others. Therefore, Ca²⁺ might inhibit the absorption of Na⁺. Furthermore, in all treatments, more Na⁺ were contained in secreted salt than plants. Therefore, T. austromongolica might be able to selectively secrete Na⁺ from salt gland.