PRODUCTION AND WATER RELATIONSHIPS OF THE HALOPHYTIC FODDER CROP, Atriplex nummularia, IRRIGATED WITH SEA WATER
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Hood College Biology
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Human Sciences
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Abstract
The results of three experiments are presented in this
paper. The first experiment supported the hypothesis that
some halophytes are capable of growth and production of
large quantities of organic matter when irrigated with
sea water. Atriplex nummularia irrigated with 100% sea
water showed approximately a 1/3 to 1/2 reduction in growth
(biomass) compared to plants irrigated with 15% sea water.
The second experiment further supported the initial hypothesis.
In greenhouse experiments elongation rates decreased during
adaptation to increased salinity. The greenhouse experiments
served as a preliminary study of the water relationships
that occur in A. nummularia. The third experiment demonstrated
a simple method for determining important parameters
about the water relationships of the plants in the field.
It was also shown that an osmotic adjustment occurred in the
cells of plants irrigated with sea water, allowing them to
maintain turgor and to continue growth.