Chetina O.A., Eremchenko O.Z.

Effect of NaCl salinization on Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ cations in cereal leaves in different soil reactions

The accumulation of Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ cations in rye and wheat leaves was studied when grown on medium saline soils with different pH levels (pH = 5.2, 7.3, 8.5). It was found that on saline soils with an acidic and alkaline reaction of the medium, cereal growth deteriorates and leaf area decreases, compared to plants on saline soils with a neutral reaction of the medium. In wheat and rye leaves grown on saline soils, the amount of water decreased and the total content of Na⁺, K⁺ and Ca²⁺ cations increased. Selective absorption of K⁺ and Ca²⁺ appears to be an adaptive response of plants to NaCl salinization of the soil. At the same time, due to the preferential accumulation of sodium in wheat and rye leaves, the ratio of K⁺/Na⁺ and Ca²⁺/Na⁺ decreased.

Keywords: NACL SALINIZATION, ACIDIC AND ALKALINE SOILS, CEREALS, CATIONS, ADAPTATION OF PLANTS