Effect of water salinity on composition of banana leaf and on soil characteristics

Abstract

In a greenhouse experiment the effects of predominantly chloride and bicarbonate waters at four salinity levels (2, 10, 25 and 40 meq/L) in elemental composition of Nanica banana leaves were studied utilising a completely randomized factorial 2x4 experimental design with three replications. The contents of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Cl and Na were determined in the central part of the leaf without midrib 150 days after planting. The variance analysis of element content in leaf showed significant effects of salinity levels on contents of P, K, S, Cl and Na at 0.01 level of probability and on Mn at 0.05 while the types of water affected significantly only contents of Na and Cl at 0.01 and 0.05 probability levels, respectively. Soil analysis at the end of experiment revealed accumulation of salt and exchangeable sodium in treatments with concentrations of 10 meq/L and above.