The Elemental Compositionin Aboveground and Underground Organs of Some Agropyron Species Grown in Different Salt Concentrations

Abstract

Salinity, which is more common in semi-arid and arid areas, is increasing every day with climate change, poor quality irrigation water, and soil structure. High salt concentration restricts plant production and causes productivity loss in agriculture. To sustain agriculture in saline soils, the determination of plant species resistant to salinity comes into prominence in areas with salinity problems. For this reason, the research was performed to determine the nutrients (i.e., Ca, Mg, P, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) accumulating at aboveground and underground parts of the three different Agropyron species, namely Agropyron cristatum , A. desertorum and A . elongatum (Syn. Elymus elongatus) under different salt concentrations (i.e., control, 5, 10 and 15 EC dS m -1 NaCl ). A. cristatum , A. desertorum , and A . elongatum species, which are quality forage crops grown in drought and salinity conditions, were determined to Ca content 1.03%, 1.01%, and 1.49% respectively, and\xa0 Mg content. 0.13%, 0.11% and 0.20% respectively. As salt concentrations increased, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in the aboveground organ has increased compared to the control treatment but decreased in the underground organs. Ca and Mg content of the aboveground organs of A. elongatum grown at 10 EC dS m -1 NaCl increased by 204% and 98%, respectively, compared to the control. Fe content of the wheatgrass species in saline conditions was found quite high, and an average of 788 ppm of Fe was found in underground organs while this value was as 430 ppm in aboveground organs. The results showed that A. elongatum had more nutrient elements in both underground and aboveground parts of the crop by comparison to the other two Agropyron species under increased salinity levels.