Elsaka, M. S.; H. M. Aboelsoud and T. H. Khalifa( 2018). Chitosan and Soluble Calcium Effects on Plant Systems under Salinity StressJ. Soil Sci. and Agric. Eng., Mansoura Univ., Vol. 9 (12): 865 - 871, 2018
Abstract: Soil salinity is one of the important environmental factors that impair the agricultural production, while the application of some amendments such as soluble calcium alleviates the adverse effect of salinity on plant growth. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the interactive effect of soil application of soluble calcium (sol. Ca) (2 or 4L/fed) and foliar application of chitosan (CHT) (0.5 or 1L/fed) on maize productivity, NPK absorption and some soil properties under salt stress (8.27 dS/m for soil and 2.9 dS/m for irrigation water). The experiment was carried out at Sakha Agric. Res. St. Lysimeter, Kafrelsheikh governorate, Egypt, during summer season (2018). The obtained results proved that these amendments individually or in combination markedly improved the growth and yield of maize (plant height, grain filling, and cobs and straw yields), enhanced N, P and K concentration (in grain and straw) and ameliorated some chemical properties of salt affected soils(ECe, SARe and ESP). It was, therefore, found that the application of higher levels of sol. Ca and CHT in combination significantly affected the plant growth and caused the highest increases in plant height (65.1%), 100- grain weight (112.2%), cobs and straw yields (168.4 and 111.6%, respectively). In addition, this combination achieved the highest NPK contents in grain (3.51, 0.33 and 1.08 %, respectively) and straw (1.73, 0.14 and 1.62 %, respectively). Also, the application of sol. Ca and CHT as well as in combination slightly decreased soil ECe, SARe and ESP values. In general, soil application of sol. Ca and foliar application of CHT ameliorated the adverse effect of salinity on maize productivity, and the combined application of them was more positive effective on plant growth under salt stress.
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