Effect on growth performance and biochemical contents of Salvadora persica when irrigated with water of different salinity

An experiment was conducted in pots to study the effects of saline water of different salinity on growth performance, salt-accumulation and biochemical contents in Salvadora persica at establishment stage using calcareoussoil. The observations indicated that all the growth parameters such as height, stump diameter and plant biomass decreased with the increase in the salinity of irrigation water and a total reduction in dry biomass of the plant was 31.59% when irrigated with water of 16 dS m - 1 as compared to good quality tap water. Concentration of sodium in different parts of plant indicated that maximum retention was in root followed by stem, leaf and minimum in thin branches and it increased with the increase in salinity of irrigation water. Potassium content was maximum in leaf in all the treatments and almost evenly distributed in other parts. Its accumulation decreased with increase in salinity of irrigation water. Both calcium and magnesium contents were maximum in leaf followed by root. These were almost equal in stem and thin branches. In leaf samples, proline and other amino acids increased and chlorophyll, protein and sugar contents decreased with the increase in salinity of irrigation water.