Effect of salinity and drought stress treatments and their combinations on growth osmotic pressure and some ions in maize, wheat and cotton plants

Abstract EN

Various treatments of salinity and drought stress treatments and their combinations exerted a reduction in the growth of three test plants.

Growth reduction of maize and cotton was considerably greater than that of wheat.

Drought stress treatments induced slight changes in POP and TOP in the three plants.

Salinity treatments and the combination of salinity and drought treatments, on the other hand, resulted in substantial elevations in osmotic pressure in these plants.

More pronounced elevations in both POP and TOP were recorded as the level of stress was increased, Increased POP and TOP in plant tissue was associated with accumulation of Na and Cl ions.

K and Ca ions exhibited slight changes under the applied conditions.

The significance of the changes in the four elements in relation to the changes in POP and TOP in the test plants are discussed.