Effect of irrigation with saline water on some physiological and biochemical processes of cotton plants

Abstract

It was found that irrigation with water with salinity of 5–6 g/L increases the concentration of soil solution and the osmotic pressure of cell fluid in plants. An increase in these parameters does not harm the growth and development of cotton plants, since the concentration of cell fluid is five times higher than that of soil solution; i.e., water and nutrient intake from the soil is not affected. The transpiration rate in plants irrigated with water with salinity of 5–6 g/L is lower by 11% than that in plants irrigated with fresh water. This results from the elevation of cell fluid concentration in plants irrigated with saline water and increased mass of leaves in plants irrigated with fresh water. However, the amount of water transpirated by cotton plants irrigated with saline water during the vegetation period is lower by 18% than that in plants irrigated with fresh water. It was found that the transpiration rate, regardless of water salinity and the mass of leaves, increases until the flowering period and then decreases by the end of vegetation period.