Mineral Status and Lupine Yield Responses to Ascorbic Acid Spraying and Irrigation by Diluted Sea Water

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted in the greenhouse of the National Research Centre at Dokki, Cairo Egypt during 2010 -2011 winter seasons to evaluate the effect of different salt stress degrees on the growth and yield characters. The salinity treatments were: Irrigation by three concentrations of diluted seawater (2000, 4000 and 6000 ppm) more than the control treatment (irrigated by tap water 250 ppm) and spraying ascorbic acid (AsA) with two concentrations (100, and 200 ppm). Salinity depressed the pods, straw, straw+ pods and seeds weight relative to the control plants but the depression of these traits showed its maximum values when plants subjected to the higher level of salinity (6000 ppm) markedly more than that with the other two levels of salinity. Slight differences in the mentioned characters of plants irrigated by solution contained 2000 or 4000 ppm. Gradual depressions in pods/straw, seeds/pods and seeds/straw ratios were detected with the increase in salt concentration in water of irrigation. Ascorbic acid application led to increase the pod, straw, total and seeds yields. The high increment in pods weight and seeds to straw ratio wereshown by using 100 ppm ascorbic acid but the increment in straw, totalseeds weight and seeds/pods and pods/straw ratios.Furthermore, the absorption rate of N, K, P, Ca, and Mg ions from the growth medium significantly inhibited as a result of treatment with diluted sea water. Meanwhile, significant increases in the uptake of these ions were obtained in response to ascorbic acid application.