Effect of cow manure and deficit irrigation with saline water on some morphological and biochemical characteristics of Salicornia persica Akhani

Nowadays, in many parts of the world, especially in arid and semiarid regions, are facing with freshwater crisis and increasing the salinity levels of agricultural lands. Estimates show that over 800 million hectares of soil (more than six percent of the world's land) are affected by different levels of salinity. Therefore, it is important to find and cultivate high beneficial plants as well as highly resistant salinity and drought conditions. One of the salt-tolerant native species in Iran is salicornia persica. This plant falls into the canopodiaceae family and it can grow in saline and alkalis soils without suitable drainage. These features of salicornia cause not require agricultural land or agricultural water for growth. salicornia oil is used in medicines (Traditional Medicine) to treat diseases such as bronchitis, liver swelling, diarrhea, hyperglycemia, anti-inflammation. Additionally, it has antioxidant properties that increase oil resistance to environmental conditions. Salt lands, unconventional waters such as drainage, saline or brackish water, and various climate in different parts of Iran have provided favorable conditions for this kind of cultivation. Therefore, the present study tries to discover some unknown points of morphological and biochemical responses of Salicornia persica.

To study some morphological and biochemical characteristics of salicornia persica under the application of cow manure and saline water deficit irrigation in a factorial completely randomized design was conducted in 2018 with three replicates under greenhouse conditions at the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Station of Zahak (In Sistan and Baluchestan Province). Irrigation treatments included full irrigation with saline water (SI) as control, deficit irrigation with saline water under 75% level [(DSI75) 25% decrease compared to control] and deficit irrigation with saline water under 55% level [(DSI55) There was a 45% decrease compared to control]. A couple of traits such as fresh and dry root weight, dry biomass, catalase and guaiacol peroxidase, Ionic leakage, photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrate, protein, and proline were measured. In order to measure the proline content of leaves by the Bates method (Bates, 1973), Carbon hydrate content was determined by Schlegel (1956).To measure Catalase Enzyme Activity (CAT) by method Beers and Sizer (1952) And guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) were used by a method (Urbanek et al., 1991). Analysis of variance was performed using SAS statistical software version 9.1. Mean comparisons at the 5% probability level were performed using Duncan's multiple range test and charting with Excel.

The results showed a significant difference between the effects of cow manure, drought stress and interaction between them on most of the studied traits. By comparing the means, fresh and dry weights of root and protein respectively with means (1.647, 0.553, 9.47) were the highest The amount in the application of manure. and among the irrigation levels of fresh and dry root weights respectively with means (2.170, 0.595) at medium stress SI (DSI75) and chlorophyll b, carotenoid, carbohydrate, and protein, respectively with mean (0.138, 0.087, 9.07, 11.47) at intensive stress (DSI55) Showed the highest value. also Application of manure increased significantly the amount of biomass and catalase enzyme.

Compare to full irrigation, although a 25% reduction in saline water consumption leads to enhance of photosynthetic pigments and osmotic regulators, reduction of biomass under severe drought conditions, it seems that salicornia persica can tolerate Somewhat Drought stress, It is not highly tolerated to drought under intensive stress. So that this plant halophyte tolerates high salinity easily. The results also showed that the application of manure almost Most of the studied traits were reduced.