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Some Effects of Soil Salinity on Growth, Development and Yield of Rapeseed ( Brassica napus L.)
Author(s) -
Boem F. H. Gutierrez,
Scheiner J. D.,
Lavado R. S.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of agronomy and crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.095
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-037X
pISSN - 0931-2250
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-037x.1994.tb00164.x
Subject(s) - rapeseed , salinity , shoot , soil salinity , cultivar , agronomy , point of delivery , brassica , biology , yield (engineering) , horticulture , chemistry , ecology , materials science , metallurgy
The effects of increasing soil‐salt levels on emergence, shoot and root growth and yield composition of rapeseed were investigated. A range of electrical conductivity (EC) values in the soil solution from 2.3 dS m ‐1 to 10.3 dS m ‐1 was obtained by adding NaCl to the substrate. The emergence was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased at EC values higher than 6 dS m ‐1 Above this value, a delay in the appearance of leaves and of the first visible internode was observed. The further increase of salinity level extended the period for siliqua formation and grain filling, and plant height, pod number and grain number per plant were lowered. However, the cultivar used showed the ability of counterbalancing for this lower grain number by increasing the seed weight, thus there were no variations on seed yield. The seed oil and protein content were also not affected by the changes in salinity. Root growth was adversely affected when salinity levels exceeded 6 dS m ‐1 . Beyond this value, short tuber‐like roots became remarkably frequent. This may be an adaptation mechanism of this species to saline stress; a similar reaction in rapeseed is known in adaptation to drought stress.