Growth, Yield and Ionic Response of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) to Saline Water in Open-air Hydroponics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55627/agrivet.004.02.01362Keywords:
Hydroponics, Saline Water, Spinach, Growth, Yield, Electrical ConductivityAbstract
Salinity is an increasing global concern, as rising salinity levels are reducing crop productivity and threatening agricultural sustainability, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. We investigated the influence of canal and saline waters on the growth, yield, and ion content of English spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), in an open-air hydroponic system. The study was arranged in a completely randomized design, comprising four irrigation treatments, viz. canal water (control), and saline waters with EC of 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 dS m-1, repeated thrice. Our findings revealed that the increasing salinity levels of irrigation water significantly reduced spinach growth and yield. The maximum plant height (36.3 cm), number of leaves per plant (20.2), fresh weight per plant (42.2 g), and dry weight per plant (6.2 g) was observed under canal water irrigation treatment. While potassium (K+) ion concentration of plants was found highest under both canal water (4.13%) and salt-water of EC 2.0 dS m-1 (4.05%), respectively. Sodium (Na+) ion concentration increased linearly with the increasing EC levels. The maximum Na+ concentration was recorded under salt-water of 6.0 dS m-1 (2.72%). The study concluded that using saline water in hydroponics can reduce the growth, yield and K+ ion concentration of spinach, while increasing its Na+ concentration. However, spinach may tolerate saline water of an EC level up to 4.0 dS m-1 with less than 21.6% reduction in fresh weight (yield) compared to canal water irrigation. Future research is warranted for the validation of these results under field conditions.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Jamila Naz Jamro, Hassan Shah Rashdi, Liaqat Ali Bhutto, Abdul Hafeez Memon, Mansoor Ali Shah, Inzamam Ali Jamali, Aaqib Shah Rashdi, Zia-ul-Hassan
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