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EFFECTS of BORON and SODIUM TOXICITY on the GROWTH of LEAFY AMARANTH (Amaranthus Cruentus)

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EFFECTS of BORON and SODIUM TOXICITY on the GROWTH of LEAFY AMARANTH (Amaranthus Cruentus) nd 2 World Irrigation Forum W.1.5.01 6-8 November 2016, Chiang Mai, Thailand EFFECTS OF BORON AND SODIUM TOXICITY ON THE GROWTH OF LEAFY AMARANTH (Amaranthus cruentus) Adeniran, K.A.1, Amodu, M.F.2, and Adelodun, B.3 ABSTRACT Boron and sodium toxicity on the growth and yield of leafy amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) crop were studied using 4 x 2 factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), replicated thrice. The treatments included: no-Boric acid and no- NaCl salts, 5mmol/cm of Boric acid and 20mmhos/cm of Sodium Chloride, 15mmol/cm of Boric acid and 40mmol/cm of NaCl and 25mmhos/cm of Boric acid and 60mmol/cm of NaCl. Interactions between treatments were also considered. Equal amount of irrigation water was applied manually and the same level of fertilizer was imposed on the treatments arranged in pots. Plant height, numbers of leaves, leaf area, root length and plant weight were determined and statistically analyzed. The results show that amaranth plant was affected by simultaneous salinity and boron toxicity. Plots treated with minimum toxicity; 5mmol/cm of Boric acid [B(OH)3] and 20mmol/cm of NaCl (B₃NaCl₁) recorded the highest fresh and dry matter accumulation on the seventh week, 52.6g and 7g respectively, while treatment with Boric acid [B(OH)3] and 40mmol/cm of NaCl (B₃NaCl3) recorded the lowest fresh and dry matter accumulation of 7.8g and 1.7g respectively for the same period. Plots treated with 5mmol/cm of Boric acid [B(OH)3] and 20mmol/cm of NaCl recorded the lowest values of 26.8cm, 16.1cm, and 38.5cm2 for plant height, root growth and leaf area respectively. The highest plant height and leaf area values of 23.3cm and 2 102cm was recorded for plants treated with B₃NaCl1 during the eight week of growth. The results show that the low sodium chloride combined with moderate boron acid concentration favours crop growth. Keywords: Boron, sodium toxicity, Amaranthus cruentus, Boric acid and Sodium Chloride. 1. INTRODUCTION Salinity effecis on plants may be osmotic effects, specific-ion toxicity and/or nutritional disorders (Läuchli and Epstein, 1990). Plants undergo characteristic changes from the time salinity stress is imposed until they reach maturity (Munns, 2002). Boron (B) is a member of the subgroup III of metalloids and has intermediate properties between metals and nonmetals (Marschner, 1995). Tanaka and Fujiwara (2007) reported that Boron is essential for plant growth and its availability in soil and irrigation water is an important determinant of agricultural production. In soil solution, Shorrocks (1997) reported that Boron exists primarily as boric acid [B(OH)3], which is leached out under high rainfall causing B deficiency. But, under low rainfall, Boron accumulates to toxic levels for the plant (Reid, 2007), which is common in arid and semiarid regions with high-boron groundwater (Tanaka and Fujiwara, 2007). Saline 2 - 2- - irrigation water contains dissolved SO4 , CO3 , and HCO3 of Ca and Mg. When these are in excess, plant roots cannot draw nutrient solution from the soil. Na toxicity has the opposite effect of salinity on soils. The physical processes associated with 1 Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. *E-mail: [email protected]. 2 Researcher: [email protected]. 3 Researcher: [email protected]. 1 nd 2 World Irrigation Forum W.1.5.01 6-8 November 2016, Chiang Mai, Thailand high Na content are soil dispersion and clay platelet and aggregate swelling. Soil dispersion causes clay particles to plug soil pores, resulting in reduced soil permeability. When such soils are repeatedly wetted and dried, it then reforms and solidifies into almost cement-like substance with little or no structure (Henderson, 1981). The objective of this study was to determine the effects of B and Na toxicity on the growth and yield of leafy amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus). 2. MATERIALS AND METHOD 2.1 Description of the Study Site The pot experiment was done using sandy-clay loam soil in the experimental plot of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, from 30th April, 2012 to 6th July, 2012. The study site is located on latitude 08° 30’N and longitude 04° 35’E with an elevation of about 340m amsl, and measures 22.5 m2. Ilorin falls into the Southern Guinea Savannah Ecological Zone of Nigeria with annual precipitation of about 1300mm, having a bimodal distribution. The rainy season starts around March, with a short dry spell in July. The long dry spell begins in November and ends in March. 2.2 Layout and Instrumentation Rain shelter was constructed using bamboo posts and transparent polythene roof slanting in one direction, to shield crops from rainfall and from direct sunlight. The pots were filled with air-dried soil weighing 10kg of sandy clay loam soil including the pot. The filled pots were then spaced 10cm × 10cm along and within the row between pot of same treatment and 20cm when separating various treatment and their replicates. 2.3 Experimental Design The study was conducted using 4 x 2 factorial in a Randomized Complete Block Design, replicated thrice. The pots (Figure 1) were grouped under four categories of treatment, namely, 1, 2, 3 and 4; all receiving the same amount of irrigation water applied manually. Treatment 1 is the control, while treatment 2, 3 and 4 were subjected to varied treatment levels. The treatments are as follows: 1. Control; No-Boron and No-Sodium-ion treatment. 2. Minimum toxicity; 5mmol/cm Boric acid [B(OH)3] and 20mmol/cm NaCl. 3. Moderate toxicity; 15mmol/cm Boric acid [B(OH)3] and 40mmol/cm NaCl. 4. High toxicity; 25mmol/cm Boric acid [B(OH)3] and 60mmol/cm NaCl. Interactions between the treatments were also considered. These treatments were imposed four weeks after germination. 2.4 Soil physical properties Soil physical properties, including the soil water properties were determined by adopting standard methods. 2.5 Crop Management Amaranth seed (24 g) was mixed with 200g of 2mm sieved air dried soil and the mixture was broadcast. The seed germinated within 4-6 days and thinning was done 2 nd 2 World Irrigation Forum W.1.5.01 6-8 November 2016, Chiang Mai, Thailand 2 weeks after planting to three plants per bucket. When the plant height was about 6cm, NPK (15-15-15) fertilizer was added by adopting the optimal rate of 90 kg/ha as recommended by Ojo (1998). The application was 2.0 g/plant i.e. 6g/bucket for the stand of three plants. Weeding was done manually. Plant samples were selected at random on weekly basis to determine plant height, leaf area, root length, number of leaves, and plant weight (fresh and dry matter) for all the treatments. All measurements were done following standard procedures. Figure 1: Pot arrangement 3. RESULTS 3.1 Soil physical and weather conditions Table 1 shows that the soil contains 74.6% Sand, 23.2% Clay and 2.2% Silt, and texturally, the soil is Sandy clay loam. The bulk density of the soil was 1.45g/cm3. The moisture content of the soil was determined by gravimetric method. Soil field capacity and irrigation frequency were calculated from the moisture content, depth and bulk density. Table 1 indicates that high temperatures prevailed during the study with humid conditions in the last three weeks of study. Table 1. Average meteorological conditions during the period of study Temperature Temperature inside Relative Relative outside the rain Humidity Humidity the rain shelter Rainfall Week shelter o inside the outside the o ( C) (mm) ( C) rain shelter rain shelter Max Min Max Min (%) (%) 1 38.3 25.2 32.5 21.6 64.6 69.5 Nil 2 38.4 25.3 32.7 22.0 62.4 67.5 Nil 3 37.8 25.6 31.5 21.7 63.8 68.2 Nil 4 36.7 25.6 31.2 21.8 64.2 68.6 Nil 5 37.4 22.6 31.6 21.6 64.8 69.3 Nil 6 35.5 22.1 30.5 21.2 65.6 69.8 20.5 7 32.7 23.2 30.2 21.1 64.5 71.2 32.6 8 34.8 23.1 31.3 21.4 74.5 76.5 35.4 3 nd 2 World Irrigation Forum W.1.5.01 6-8 November 2016, Chiang Mai, Thailand 3.2 Soil chemical properties The chemical analysis from the soil sample before imposing the treatments is given in Table 2, which shows that the soil is acidic and high in organic matter. Table 2. Chemical properties of experimental soil Soil property Initial quantity Soil property Initial quantity CEC (Meq / 100g pH in water (1:1) 5.6 1.39 soil) pH in KCl 4.75 Ca2+ 5.91 Organic matter (%) 112 Mg2+ 7.69 Total Nitrogen 1.40 Na+ 2.75 Available P (mg/kg) 1.83 K+ 2.60 ESP (%) 11.98 3.3 Plant growth parameters 3.3.1 Fresh matter accumulation Figures 2 and 3 show that initially there was a gradual increase in the weight of both fresh and dry matter of the experimental crop as the crop grows older. 60 Bₒ NaClₒ 50 Bₒ NaCl₁ 40 Bₒ NaCl₂ Bₒ NaCl₃ 30 B₁ NaClₒ 20 B₁ NaCl₁ 10 B₁ NaCl₂ 0 B₁ NaCl₃ Fresh Fresh matter (g/plant) Week Week Week Week Week Week Week B₂ NaClₒ 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 B₂ NaCl₁ B₂ NaCl₂ B₂ NaCl₃ Period of growth (weeks) B₃ NaClₒ B₃ NaCl₁ Figure 2.
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