Dalia, A. Khalouf(1) , Awad, M. Al-Aswad (1) and Goson, Al-Rajab Aga(2)

(1). Department of Ecology and Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Furat University, Deir Ezzor, Syria.

(2).Department of Ecology and Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Baath University, Homs, Syria

(Corresponding author: Awad, M. Aswad. E-Mail: dr.awadalaswad@gmail.com).

Received: 23/01/2020 Accepted: 26/02/2020

Abstract

The research was carried out at the nursery of the forestry of the Directorate of Agriculture in the Deir Ezzor Governorate, during the two growing seasons 2014 and 2019, to study the effect of several salinity levels on the growth and productivity of Atriplex leucoclada and Atriplex canescens. Randomized complete block design with four replicates was used. The seeds of the two species were planted in polyethylene bags filled with soil mixture with sand in a 2: 1 ratio. sodium chloride and sodium sulfate with five concentrations (Tap water, 3000, 6000, 12000 and 18000) mg / liter were used, growth and yield parameters were taken after six months of planting in both seasons. Results indicated that Atriplex leucoclada showed significant superiority over Atriplex canescens in all the studied parameters at both of the growing seasons. In general, it was noticed that there was a tendency decrease in all the studied characteristics with increasing the salinity level from the control toward the highest level of 18000 mg/liter. The interaction between plant species and saline type was affected significantly in the studied characteristics at the two studied seasons. Atriplex leucoclada with sodium sulfate was significantly superior on Atriplex canescens and recorded the highest values in plant height (35.00, 30.60 cm), fresh weight of the leaves/plant (23.65, 19.77 g) , dry weight of the leaves / plant (9.95, 8.70 g), fresh weight of the plant (31.30, 27.65 g) and dry weight of the plant (13.90, 12.63 g), in the first and the second seasons, respectively. All traits were affected by the interaction between the plant species and salt concentrations during the two studied seasons, Atriplex leucoclada with control treatment were recorded significant superiority of Atriplex canescens with all salt concentrations in the 2014 season, and the highest values were recorded in plant height (38.25 cm). While in the 2019 season, Atriplex leucoclada with control treatment were superior on Atriplex canescens and recorded the highest values in plant height (33.56 cm), number of branches / plant (7.44 branches), fresh weight and dry weight of the plant (35.06, 13.75 g), respectively).

Keyword: Sodium chloride, Sodium sulfate, Salinity levels, Atriplex leucoclada, Atriplex canescens, Growth and productivity.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF