The Elemental Compositionin Aboveground and Underground Organs of Some Agropyron Species Grown in Different Salt Concentrations.

Salinity, which is more common in semi-arid and arid areas, is increasing every day with climate change, poor quality irrigation water, and soil structure. High salt concentration restricts plant production and causes productivity loss in agriculture. To sustain agriculture in saline soils, the determination of plant species resistant to salinity comes into prominence in areas with salinity problems. For this reason, the research was performed to determine the nutrients (Ca, Mg, P, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) accumulating at aboveground and underground parts of the three different Agropyron species, namely Agropyron cristatum, A.desertorum and A. elongatum (Syn. Elymus elongatus) under different salt concentrations (control, 5, 10 and 15 EC dS m-1NaCl). A. cristatum, A.desertorum, and A. elongatumspecies, which are quality forage crops grown in drought and salinity conditions, were determined to Ca content 1.03%, 1.01%, and 1.49% respectively, and Mg content. 0.13%, 0.11% and 0.20% respectively. As salt concentrations increased, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in the aboveground organ has increased compared to the control treatment but decreased in the underground organs. Ca and Mg content of the aboveground organs of A. elongatum grown at 10 EC dS m-1NaCl increased by 204% and 98%, respectively, compared to the control. Fe content of the wheatgrassspecies in saline conditions was found quite high, and an average of 788 mg kg-1 of Fe was found in underground organswhile this value was as 430mg kg-1 in aboveground organs. The results showed that A. elongatum had more nutrient elements in both underground and aboveground parts of the crop by comparison to the other two Agropyron speciesunder increased salinity levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]