The Effect of Different Irrigation Water Salinity Levels on Nutrients Uptake, Biochemical Content and Growth Response of Blue Panicum, Quinoa and Silage Maize

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the functional response of Panicum antidotale Retz, Chenopodium quinoa, and Zea mays L. to different levels of saline irrigation water. Nutrient uptake, biochemical content, and growth response were evaluated to select potential crops best suited for biosaline agriculture. The results suggest that blue panicum is highly tolerant to saline water irrigation, followed by quinoa up to 10 dS m−1, and then silage maize which is sensitive to saline conditions. The introduction of blue panicum as an alternative crop on salt-effected soils, such as the irrigated perimeter of Foum El Oued in Laâyoune in Morocco, would exhibit high performance better than traditional crops such as silage maize and therefore would improve the local farmers’ income.

Keywords

• salt-tolerant crops
• mineral uptake
• biosaline agriculture
• climate change