NITRATE ACCUMULATION AND GROWTH OF CORN PLANTS AS AFFECTED BY CHLORIDE CONCENTRATION OF IRRIGATION WATER AND NITROGEN SOURCE.

A biological experiment of corn plant (Zea mays L.) was conducted to evaluat the effect of different chloride concentration in irrigation water (5, 10 and 20 mmole Cl- / L) and different levels (50, 100 and 200 Kg N / ha) of two nitrogen sources (urea and calcium nitrate) on nitrate accumulation in plant tissues and its growth. Results obtained indicated that increasing Cl- concentration increased NO3- -- N and Cl- in plant tissue significantly, but reduced plant dry weight. Higher nitrate concentrations were found in plants fertilized with urea (1553.9 µg / gm dry matter) than with calcium nitrate (760.1 µg / gm dry matter) whereas significant low dry weight found in urea treatments compared with calcium nitrate treatments. The interaction of higher Cl- concentration (20 mmole / L) and higher nitrogen level (200 Kg N / ha) caused higher nitrate accumulation in corn plant among other interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]