The Effects of Potassium and Calcium on the Response of Safflower to Salinity in Hydroponic Nutrient Solution

An experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the effects of increased concentration of potassium and calcium in hydroponic nutrient solution on the response of safflower to salinity. The experiment was carried out in a glasshouse using a completely randomized design. Four saline treatments (Johnson solution containing 100 mM of NaCl, Johnson solution containing 100 mM of NaCl + 10 mM potassium, Johnson solution containing 100 mM of NaCl + 5 mM calcium, Johnson solution containing 100 mM of NaCl + 10 mM potassium + 5 mM calcium) and Johnson solution without any addition of salt as control. Leaf area per plant, shoot and root dry matter was decreased in saline treatments. The concentration of potassium and calcium in the plants were decreased but those of sodium were increased at salinity. The extent of shoot and root dry mater reduction with salinity was less in saline treatment with additional calcium alone. The addition of potassium into the nutrient solution could not mitigate the negative effects of salt stress on the plants. Increasing the concentration of both potassium and calcium in saline nutrient solution resulted in a greater reduction of shoot dry matter. The results showed that the negative effects of salinity may be alleviated by increasing the concentration of calcium in nutrient solution.