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Chloride Accumulation Near Corn Roots Under Different Transpiration, Soil Moisture, and Soil Salinity Regimes
Author(s) -
Sinha B. K.,
Singh N. T.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1976.00021962006800020035x
Subject(s) - transpiration , water content , loam , salinity , chemistry , agronomy , chloride , soil water , dns root zone , sodium , moisture , environmental science , soil science , photosynthesis , biology , geology , ecology , biochemistry , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
The magnitude of 36 Cl accumulation around roots of corn ( Zea mays L.) plants exposed to low, medium, and high transpiration rates was studied in laboratory experiments using Tulewal loamy sand (a Typic Ustochrept) salinized to ECe of 3 and 6 m mhos/cm with sodium chloride. Radioautographs and quantitative measurements of 36 Cl in high transpiration treatment showed the highest concentration of the element in regions closest to the root. At high transpiration rates the chloride content of the soil close to the roots increased while the same soil showed a decrease in the chloride content when the plants were exposed to low transpiration treatment. Chloride concentrations in the ‘apparent free space’ and soil close to the roots was two to three times that in the bulk soil, depending upon the amount of water transpired/unit root length. At higher transpiration rates, salt accumulation increased with greater soil moisture content but was either unaffected or decreased closer to the rootsoil interface, when the transpiration rate was low. The results indicate that the salinity tolerance limits of plants would be greatly influenced by the prevailing evaporative demand.