Effects of humic substances on plant growth and mineral nutrients uptake of wheat (Triticum durum cv. Salihli) under conditions of salinity

Abstract

The effects of foliar and soil application of humic substances on plant growth and some nutrient elements uptake of wheat (Triticum durum Salihli) grown on various salt concentrations were examined. Sodium chloride was added to soil to obtain 15 and 60 mM saline conditions. The solid humus was applied to the soil one month before planting and the liquid humic acid was sprayed twice on the leaves on day 20 and 35 after seedling emergence. The application doses of solid humus were 0, 1 and 2 g kg-1 and the liquid humic acids were 0, 0.1 and 0.2%. Salinity negatively affected the growth of wheat; also decreased the dry weight and the uptake of nutrient elements except for Na and Mn. Soil application of humus increased the N uptake of wheat and foliar application of humic acid increased the uptake of P, K, Mg, Na, Cu and Zn. Although the effect of interaction between salt and soil humus application was found statistically significant, the interaction effect between salt and foliar humic acid treatment was not found significant. Under salt stress, the first doses of both soil and foliar application of humic substances increased the uptake of nutrients. © 2009 Asian Network for Scientific Information.