Abstract
The physiological responses of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Gilboa) to salinity (100 mM NaCl) and some inorganic nutrients (K+, Ca2+ and N as NO3-) were investigated. Salinity caused a substantial reduction in biomass, carbon assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, leaf area, relative growth rate, NO3- content and nitrate reductase activity, whereas, transpiration rate was slightly affected. Inclusion of K+, Ca2+ and N as NO3- in plant nutrient medium in combination or alone brought about a marked stimulation in control plants and moderated the salinity caused reductions in NaCl treated plants. In addition, plants also exhibited differences in these parameters at two growth stages.
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Khan, M., Silberbush, M. & Lips, S. Responses of alfalfa to potassium, calcium, and nitrogen under stress induced by sodium chloride. Biologia Plantarum 40, 251–259 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001072704686
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001072704686