Journal of Soil and Plant Interactions
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Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan
Abstract: (141 Views)
Abstract
Salinity is one of the most significant abiotic stresses limiting agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions, inhibiting plant growth and productivity. Zinc is crucial for plants to resist environmental stresses. Utilizing rubber powder as a zinc source is an effective strategy for promoting plant growth in saline soils. This study aimed to investigate the effect of rubber powder on the growth and development of wheat plants in saline soil. The experiment was conducted as a factorial study with two factors: salinity at three levels (control, 1000 mg, and 2000 mg sodium chloride per kg of soil) and zinc (from the rubber powder source) at three levels (0, 10, and 20 g rubber powder per kg of soil, equivalent to 0, 710, and 1420 mg zinc per kg of soil), organized in a completely randomized design in a greenhouse. The results showed significant main and interaction effects of treatments on shoot dry weight, total chlorophyll, sugar, proline, zinc, iron, lead, cadmium, and the sodium-to-potassium ratio in the plants. However, the interaction effect of salinity and rubber on root dry weight was not significant, although the main effects of both factors were significant. Increasing the amount of rubber powder under salt stress conditions improved shoot dry weight, total chlorophyll, and levels of zinc, iron, lead, and cadmium in the plants. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the ameliorative effects of rubber powder in mitigating the negative impacts of salt stress on wheat.
Background and Objective: Trace element deficiency, particularly zinc, is widespread in cereal crops globally. The availability of zinc in most soils, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, is low due to high pH, elevated lime content, and insufficient soil organic matter (Aghili et al., 2014). Salinity and salt accumulation in the soil are serious agricultural problems in these regions, leading to reduced yields and a decrease in cultivable land (Jalili et al., 2007). Worn car tires contain relatively high levels of zinc. Tire rubber typically consists of one to five percent zinc oxide by weight. The use of tire rubber and its ash as a zinc fertilizer for plants has garnered attention from researchers (Taheri et al., 2011; Nasirizadeh et al., 2023).
Methods: The experiment was conducted as a factorial study in a completely randomized design with three replications. The factors included salinity at three levels (control, 1000 mg, and 2000 mg sodium chloride per kg of soil) and zinc (from the rubber powder source) at three levels (0, 10, and 20 g rubber powder per kg of soil, equivalent to 0, 710, and 1420 mg zinc per kg of soil). Before planting, soil samples (0–30 cm) were collected from an agricultural field, air-dried, and crushed to pass through a 2-mm sieve. The salt-tolerant wheat cultivar Barzegar was cultivated in 2 kg pots, with 8 germinated seeds planted at a depth of 3 cm. The pots were irrigated with normal water for four weeks; in the fifth week, salinity stress was gradually applied over three irrigation sessions, introducing sodium chloride concentrations of 0 mg (control), 1000 mg, and 2000 mg/kg of soil. Throughout the cultivation period, irrigation was conducted every other day, maintaining humidity at approximately 70% of field capacity. After three months, the plants were harvested, and the concentrations of zinc, iron, lead, and cadmium, as well as the sodium-to-potassium ratio, were measured in the aerial parts of the wheat plants. Additionally, vegetative traits such as the dry weight of aerial parts, dry weight of roots, total chlorophyll, sugar, and proline were assessed.
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Results: The results indicated significant main and interaction effects of the treatments on shoot dry weight, total chlorophyll, sugar, proline, zinc, iron, lead, cadmium, and the sodium-to-potassium ratio in the plants. However, the interaction effect of salinity and rubber on root dry weight was not significant, although the main effects of both factors were significant. Increasing the application of rubber powder under salt stress conditions enhanced shoot dry weight, total chlorophyll, zinc, iron, lead, and cadmium levels in the plants. This study demonstrated the ameliorative effects of rubber powder in mitigating the negative impacts of salt stress on wheat.
Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that crushed rubber particles can be used as a rich and cheap source of zinc, and optimal nutrition with zinc elements can somewhat increase plant resistance to salinity.
Salinity is one of the most significant abiotic stresses limiting agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions, inhibiting plant growth and productivity. Zinc is crucial for plants to resist environmental stresses. Utilizing rubber powder as a zinc source is an effective strategy for promoting plant growth in saline soils. This study aimed to investigate the effect of rubber powder on the growth and development of wheat plants in saline soil. The experiment was conducted as a factorial study with two factors: salinity at three levels (control, 1000 mg, and 2000 mg sodium chloride per kg of soil) and zinc (from the rubber powder source) at three levels (0, 10, and 20 g rubber powder per kg of soil, equivalent to 0, 710, and 1420 mg zinc per kg of soil), organized in a completely randomized design in a greenhouse. The results showed significant main and interaction effects of treatments on shoot dry weight, total chlorophyll, sugar, proline, zinc, iron, lead, cadmium, and the sodium-to-potassium ratio in the plants. However, the interaction effect of salinity and rubber on root dry weight was not significant, although the main effects of both factors were significant. Increasing the amount of rubber powder under salt stress conditions improved shoot dry weight, total chlorophyll, and levels of zinc, iron, lead, and cadmium in the plants. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the ameliorative effects of rubber powder in mitigating the negative impacts of salt stress on wheat.
Background and Objective: Trace element deficiency, particularly zinc, is widespread in cereal crops globally. The availability of zinc in most soils, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, is low due to high pH, elevated lime content, and insufficient soil organic matter (Aghili et al., 2014). Salinity and salt accumulation in the soil are serious agricultural problems in these regions, leading to reduced yields and a decrease in cultivable land (Jalili et al., 2007). Worn car tires contain relatively high levels of zinc. Tire rubber typically consists of one to five percent zinc oxide by weight. The use of tire rubber and its ash as a zinc fertilizer for plants has garnered attention from researchers (Taheri et al., 2011; Nasirizadeh et al., 2023).
Methods: The experiment was conducted as a factorial study in a completely randomized design with three replications. The factors included salinity at three levels (control, 1000 mg, and 2000 mg sodium chloride per kg of soil) and zinc (from the rubber powder source) at three levels (0, 10, and 20 g rubber powder per kg of soil, equivalent to 0, 710, and 1420 mg zinc per kg of soil). Before planting, soil samples (0–30 cm) were collected from an agricultural field, air-dried, and crushed to pass through a 2-mm sieve. The salt-tolerant wheat cultivar Barzegar was cultivated in 2 kg pots, with 8 germinated seeds planted at a depth of 3 cm. The pots were irrigated with normal water for four weeks; in the fifth week, salinity stress was gradually applied over three irrigation sessions, introducing sodium chloride concentrations of 0 mg (control), 1000 mg, and 2000 mg/kg of soil. Throughout the cultivation period, irrigation was conducted every other day, maintaining humidity at approximately 70% of field capacity. After three months, the plants were harvested, and the concentrations of zinc, iron, lead, and cadmium, as well as the sodium-to-potassium ratio, were measured in the aerial parts of the wheat plants. Additionally, vegetative traits such as the dry weight of aerial parts, dry weight of roots, total chlorophyll, sugar, and proline were assessed.
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Results: The results indicated significant main and interaction effects of the treatments on shoot dry weight, total chlorophyll, sugar, proline, zinc, iron, lead, cadmium, and the sodium-to-potassium ratio in the plants. However, the interaction effect of salinity and rubber on root dry weight was not significant, although the main effects of both factors were significant. Increasing the application of rubber powder under salt stress conditions enhanced shoot dry weight, total chlorophyll, zinc, iron, lead, and cadmium levels in the plants. This study demonstrated the ameliorative effects of rubber powder in mitigating the negative impacts of salt stress on wheat.
Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that crushed rubber particles can be used as a rich and cheap source of zinc, and optimal nutrition with zinc elements can somewhat increase plant resistance to salinity.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Availability of soil water and nutrients for plant
Received: 2024/12/23 | Accepted: 2025/05/26
Received: 2024/12/23 | Accepted: 2025/05/26
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Journal of Soil and Plant Interactions by http://jspi.iut.ac.ir is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License which allows users to read, copy, distribute and make derivative works for non-commercial purposes from the material, as long as the author of the original work is cited properly.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License which allows users to read, copy, distribute and make derivative works for non-commercial purposes from the material, as long as the author of the original work is cited properly.
