Macro- and micronutrient and sodium contents in leaves of mango rootstocks irrigated with water with different levels of salinity.
Silva J. M. da, Gheyi H. R., Fernandes P. D., Oliveira F. H. T. de, Soares F. A. L.
Author Affiliation: Departamento de Engenharia Agrícola da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, 58.109-970, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
Proceedings of the Interamerican Society for Tropical Horticulture 47 : 213-217
Abstract : A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the effects of salinity of the irrigation water varying from 0.7 to 5.7 dS m-1 on the chemical composition of the leaves of 2 mango rootstocks (Espada and Manguito). The saline water was prepared by the addition of NaCl to local water. The substrate consisted of coconut and carbonized rice straw. The chemical composition of the leaves was evaluated 120 days after planting in terms of macro and micronutrients and sodium. The increase in salinity of irrigation water decreased N, K, Ca and Mg contents in leaves but did not affect contents of P and S. The rootstock Espada presented higher contents of Na and P and lower Ca. The contents of micronutrients in both rootstocks were only slightly affected by salinity, with the exception of Mn which presented a sharp decrease. The content of Na and Na/K ratio in both cultivars increased with increase in water salinity and was higher in Espada.