This article was downloaded by: [University of Florida] On: 12 March 2013, At: 07:28 Publisher: Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/bpts20 Overcoming Salinity Barriers to Crop Production Using Traditional Methods Z. Plaut a , M. Edelstein b & M. Ben-Hur a a Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, ARO, Volcani Center, Israel b Department of Vegetable Crops, Neve-Ya’ar Research Center, ARO, Ramat-Yishay, Israel Version of record first published: 20 Feb 2013. To cite this article: Z. Plaut , M. Edelstein & M. Ben-Hur (2013): Overcoming Salinity Barriers to Crop Production Using Traditional Methods, Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 32:4, 250-291 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07352689.2012.752236 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 32:250–291, 2013 Copyright C Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 0735-2689 print / 1549-7836 online DOI: 10.1080/07352689.2012.752236 Overcoming Salinity Barriers to Crop Production Using Traditional Methods Z. Plaut,1 M. Edelstein,2 and M. Ben-Hur1 1Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, ARO, Volcani Center, Israel 2Department of Vegetable Crops, Neve-Ya’ar Research Center, ARO, Ramat-Yishay, Israel Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................................................................251 II. ALLEVIATION OF SALINITY HAZARDS BY IMPROVING THE PLANT ENVIRONMENT ................................252 A. Removal of Salts from the Root Zone .......................................................................................................................................................252 1. Salt Leaching and Irrigation Management and Technology .......................................................................................................252 2. Primer and Companion Plants ...............................................................................................................................................................256 3. Soil Mulching and Water Treatments ..................................................................................................................................................256 B. Fertilizer Application to the Root Zone ....................................................................................................................................................257 1. Potassium (K) ..............................................................................................................................................................................................257 2. Calcium (Ca) ................................................................................................................................................................................................258 3. Nitrogen (N) .................................................................................................................................................................................................259 4. Phosphorus (P) ............................................................................................................................................................................................259 5. Sulfur (S) .......................................................................................................................................................................................................260 6. Micronutrients .............................................................................................................................................................................................260 7. Biofertilizers and Manures ......................................................................................................................................................................260 C. Application of Non-Nutritional Additives ...............................................................................................................................................260 D. Treating the Aerial Environment .................................................................................................................................................................262 1. Elevated CO2 Concentrations ................................................................................................................................................................262 2. Air Relative Humidity and Temperature ............................................................................................................................................263 III. ALLEVIATION OF SALINITY HAZARDS USING BACTERIA AND MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ...........................263 A. Inoculation with Bacteria ...............................................................................................................................................................................263 B. Interaction of Plants with Mycorrhizal Fungi .........................................................................................................................................265 Downloaded by [University of Florida] at 07:28 12 March 2013 1. Ectomycorrhizas .........................................................................................................................................................................................265 2. Arbuscular Mycorrhizas ...........................................................................................................................................................................265 IV. ALLEVIATION OF SALINITY HAZARDS BY TREATING THE PLANT ...........................................................................267 A. Seed and Young Seedlings Priming and Seed Size ..............................................................................................................................267 B. Grafting onto Tolerant Rootstocks .............................................................................................................................................................268 C. Application of Non-Enzymatic Antioxidants .........................................................................................................................................270 D. Application of Plant Growth Regulators ..................................................................................................................................................272 1. Salicylic Acid ...............................................................................................................................................................................................272 2. Brassinosteroids ..........................................................................................................................................................................................273 3. Abscisic Acid ...............................................................................................................................................................................................274 Address correspondence to M. Ben-Hur, Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, ARO, Volcani Center, Israel. E-mail: [email protected] 250 OVERCOMING SALINITY BARRIERS 251 4. Indole Acetic Acid, Kinetin, and Benzyl Adenine .........................................................................................................................274 5. Gibberellins ..................................................................................................................................................................................................274 6. Jasmonates ....................................................................................................................................................................................................274 7. Polyamines ....................................................................................................................................................................................................275 E. Application of Compatible Solutes ............................................................................................................................................................275 F. Foliar Application of Nutrients ....................................................................................................................................................................277