Abstract
Plant response to salinity as affected by an unequal distribution of salts in the root environment was studied with cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) as a test crop. In a series of six experiments use was made of a split root system, in which the plants were grown in separated rockwool strips irrigated with nutrient solutions with equal or different EC values, predetermined by different concentrations of either nutrients or NaCl.
From low to standard EC values the uptake of nutrients was highest in the root parts with the highest concentration of nutrients. In root parts with concentrations of nutrients >4 dS m-1, the uptake decreased rather quickly. Nutrient uptake from one root part with high NaCl concentrations was also retarded, if the NaCl concentration supplied to the other root part was low. If both root parts were supplied with high NaCl concentrations, the plant was able to adjust and absorbed adequate amounts of nutrients, despite the high NaCl concentrations.
Water was preferably absorbed from the root part with the lowest EC. However, if no nutrients were supplied in one of the root parts the water uptake from that root part was retarded. Effects of high NaCl concentrations in specifically retarding the water uptake were not established from the data of the experiments.
The results are discussed in relation to existing models predicting effects of spatial variation of salinity in the root environment under growing conditions in the glasshouse industry and in relation to the experiences previously gained with tomato.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Asher C J and Loneragan J F 1967 Response of plants to phosphate concentration in solution culture: I Growth and phosphorus content. Soil Sci. 103, 225–233.
Bakker J C and Sonneveld C 1988 Calcium deficiency of glasshouse cucumber as affected by environmental humidity and mineral nutrition. J. Hort. Sci. 63, 241–246.
Bernstein L and Francois L E 1975 Effects of frequency of sprinkling irrigation with saline water compared with daily drip irrigation. Agron. J. 67, 185–190.
Bingham F T and Garber M J 1970 Zonal salinization of the root system with NaCl and boron in relation to growth and water uptake of corn plants. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 34, 122–126.
Charbonneau J, Gosselin A and Trudel M J 1988 Influence de la conductivité électrique de la solution nutritive sur la croissance et le développement de la tomate de serre cultivée avec ou sans éclairage d'appoint. Can. J. Plant Sci. 68 267–276.
Hoffman G J 1986 Salinity. In Trickle Irrigation for Crop Production. Eds. F S Nakayama and D A Bucks. pp. 345–362. Elsevier Science
IKC 1994. Bemestingsadviesbasis Glastuinbouw 1994–1995 Informatie en Kennis Centrum Akker-en Tuinbouw, afdeling Glasgroenten en Bloemisterij, Aalsmeer/Naaldwijk, Netherlands, 172 pp.
De Jager A 1984 Effect of localized supply of H2PO4, NO3, Ca and K on the concentration of that nutrient in the plant and the rate of uptake by roots in young maize plants in solution culture. Neth. J. Agric. Sci. 32, 43–56.
Janse J and Welles G W H 1984 Effect of energy saving measurements on keeping quality of tomato and cucumber fruits. Acta Hort. 163, 261–269.
Lunin J and Gallatin M H 1965 Zonal salinization of the root system in relation to plant growth. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 29, 608–612.
Maas E V and Hoffman G J 1977 Crop salt tolerance-Current assessment. J. Irrig. Drain. Div. 103 No IR2, 115–134.
Meiri A 1984 Plant response to salinity: Experimental methodology and application to the field. In Soil Salinity under Irrigation. Processes and Management. Eds. I Shainberg and J Shalheved pp. 284–297. Springer-Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg.
Oster J D, Hoffman G J and Robinson F E 1984 Dealing with salinity: Management alternatives: Crop, water and soil. California Agric 38, no 10, 29–32.
Shalhevet J and Bernstein L 1968 Effect of vertically heterogeneous soil salinity on plant growth and water uptake. Soil Sci. 106, 85–93.
Sonneveld C and Straver N 1992 Nutrient solutions for vegetables and flowers grown in water or substrates, Ninth edn. Proefstation voor Tuinbouw onder Glas te Naaldwijk, Netherlands. Series: Voedingsoplossingen Glastuinbouw no 8, 45pp.
Sonneveld C and Welles G W H 1988 Yield and quality of rockwoolgrown tomatoes as affected by variations in EC value and climatic conditions. Plant Soil 111, 37–42.
Sonneveld C and Voogt W 1990 Response of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) to an unequal distribution of nutrients in the root environment. Plant Soil 124, 251–256.
Sonneveld C, Van den Bos A L, Van der Burg A A M and Voogt W 1991 Fertigation in the glasshouse industry in The Netherlands. In Fertigation/Chemigation, Proc. Expert Consultation, 8–11 September 1991 Cairo, pp 186–193. FAO Organization of the United Nations, Rome 1991.
Sonneveld C and Van der Burg A A M 1991 Sodium chloride salinity in fruit vegetable crops in soilless culture. Neth. J. Agric. Sci. 39, 115–122.
Sonneveld C and Voogt W 1993 The concentration of nutrients for growing anthurium andreanum in substrate. Acta Hort. 342, 61–67.
Van Noordwijk M and Raats P A C 1980 Drip and drainage systems for rockwool cultures in relation to accumulation and leaching of salts. Fifth Internat. Cong. on Soilless Culture, Wageningen 1980, 279–287.
Zijlstra S, Den Nijs A P M, Sonneveld C and Vos G 1987 Een nieuwe aanpak van het necroseprobleem bij meeldauwresistente komkommers. Prophyta 41, 138–140.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sonneveld, C., de Kreij, C. Response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) to an unequal distribution of salts in the root environment. Plant and Soil 209, 47–56 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004563102358
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004563102358