Environmental implications of adopting a dominant factor approach to salinity management.
Additive or multiplicative models of crop response on which salinity management theory have been developed may lead to an erroneous perception regarding compensative interaction among salinity and other growth factors. We present results from studies of biomass production and transpiration of corn (Zea mays L. cv. Jubilee), melon (Cucumis melo L. subsp. melo cv. Galia), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. 5656), onion (Allium cepa L. cv. HA 944), and date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L. cv. Medjool) under salinity combined with water or nitrate (growth promoters) or with boron (growth inhibitor). The measured crop responses were to the more severe stress rather than to combinations of the individual effects of the various stresses. Consequences of shifting management of saline water to a dominant factor approach include reduction of environmental contamination and conservation of water resources.
Shani
Uri
U
Department of Soil and Water Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Ben-Gal
Alon
A
Dudley
Lynn M
LM
D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D028023:Arecaceae / Q000254:growth & development; D018533:Biomass; D001895:Boron / Q000502:physiology; D002980:Climate; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000254:growth & development*; D019662:Cucurbitaceae / Q000254:growth & development; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000254:growth & development; D008954:Models, Biological; D009566:Nitrates / Q000502:physiology; D019697:Onions / Q000254:growth & development; D018526:Plant Transpiration / Q000502:physiology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000032:analysis*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000254:growth & development
D009566:Nitrates; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D001895:Boron