Effects of NaCl concentration in irrigation water and soil moisture on dry matter production of barley and sorghum

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Tropical Agriculture Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 175 - 182
• Main Authors: "Sumi, A. (Kagoshima Univ. (Japan). Faculty of Agriculture), Katayama, T.C, Hakoyama, S, Suzuki, Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese; English
• Published: Japanese Society for Tropical Agriculture 01.09.2002
• Subjects: Barley; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; DRY MATTER CONTENT; Dry matter production; GROWTH INHIBITORS; HORDEUM VULGARE; Interaction effect; IRRIGATION WATER; NaCl concentration; PRODUCTION; SODIUM CHLORIDE; Soil moisture; SOIL WATER CONTENT; Sorghum; SORGHUM BICOLOR
• ISSN: 0021-5260; 2185-0259
• DOI: 10.11248/jsta1957.46.175

"The effect of the NaC1 concentration in irrigation water on crop growth responses to soil moisture was examined in barley and sorghum plants grown in culture boxes and containers. The lower the soil moisture, the higher the NaC1 concentration in available soil moisture, and the larger the differences among treatments. Under the shortage of soil moisture, therefore, the harmful effect of the NaC1 concentration in irrigation water on dry matter production was conspicuous. This effect was also conspicuous under an excess of soil moisture. This seemed to be attributable to the large accumulation of NaC1 into the soil and to the decline in the physiological activity of roots under such conditions. The optimum soil moisture content at which the total dry matter weight became maximum rose once and then fell with the increase in the NaC1 concentration in irrigation water. These findings suggest that soil moisture control must be modified depending on the salt concentration in irrigation water."