Effect of nitrogen source and salinity level on salt accumulation of two chickpea genotypes

This study aimed at investigating mechanisms of salt tolerance and ionic re lations of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars with different nitrogen (N) sources; Two resistant genotypes, ILC-205 and ILC-1919, were subjected to four levels of salinity (0.5, 3.0, 6.0, and 9.0 dS m(-1)). Nitrogen sour ces consisted of inoculation with two resistant Rhizobium strains, CP-29 an d CP-32, mineral N additions, and no N application. Data was collected on r oot and shoot contents of sodium (Na+) chlorine, (Cl-,) and potassium (K+), and shoot to root Na+ ratio, as well as shoot K+ to Na+ ratio. Salinity af fected shoot Na+ and Cl- contents, but nodulating plants had higher shoot N a+ contents than plants supplied with mineral N. Shoot to root Na+ ratios w ere lower in the mineral N treatment than in nodulating treatments at 3.0 d S m(-1), indicating that root compartmentalization and shoot exclusion were only possible at low salinities. Potassium levels of nodulating plant shoo ts were lower than those of nonnodulating plants only at low salinities. N- source significantly affected shoot K+/Na+ ratio, with nodulating plants ha ving lower ratios than non-nodulating plants, indicating that rhizobial inf ection or nodule formation may lead to salt entry curtailing the selective ability of chickpea roots.