Growth performance and leaf nutrient status of aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn) cultivars in saline and sodic soils

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of aonla cultivars, viz., Banarasi, Francis, Krishna and Kanchan in artificially developed sal ine and sodic soils. Data recorded on plant survival, growth and leaf nutri ent status revealed 100% plant survival in Francis and Kanchan in both sali ne and sodic soils. Growth of aonla cultivars, viz., Francis and Kanchan, w as significantly better than that in Banarasi and Krishna. Total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium status in the leaves of all aonla cultivars decrea sed significantly both in saline and sodic soils. Calcium and magnesium con tents were reduced in response to sodicity, whereas salinity caused marked increase in the status of these two nutrients in all the aonla cultivars. L eaf sodium accumulation was in toxic quantities in response to both salinit y and sodicity (alkalinity). Leaf injury symptoms were more conspicuous in Banarasi and Krishna than in Francis and Kanchan.