INFLUENCE OF SODIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM SULFATE ON ZONAL PELARGONIUM AND MICROORGANISMS COLONIZING ROOT ENVIRONMENT

J. Starzyk, W. Bres, B. Politycka, T. Trelka

Abstract: Increasingly often we may observe soil and substrate contamination with sodium. Excess of sodium in root environment causes physiological disorders in plants affecting their quality. To assess the effect of sodium salts on the quality of zonal pelargonium two-year experiments were established. Increasing doses of NaCl or Na2SO4 were applied, raising sodium contents in the substrate to 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg Na·dm–3. Substrate with no sodium salt added comprised the control. An increase in sodium contents had a negative effect on all biomorphological features of pelargonium. However, low content of sodium in the peat substrate may be beneficial for zonal pelargonium. Sodium chloride has a stronger negative effect on zonal pelargonium than sodium sulfate. Up to 200 mg Na·dm–3 in the substrate pelargonium retains its high decorative value. Salinity
also affects microorganisms colonizing the peat substrate. Both bacteria and actinomycetes are sensitive to sodicity. Increased sodium salts contents in the peat substrate caused only a slight change in CFU of fungi in the substrate.

Keywords: bacteria; biomorphological features; fungi; ornamental plants; salinity

Date published: 2017-09-01