Nutrient accumulation in four ornamental tree species under saline stress conditions

The present investigation was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India to screen four ornamental tree species ideal for salt-affected environment. Screening was done on the basis of nutrient accumulation in leaves and roots. The 1-year-old tree seedlings growing in 10 pots were subjected to five levels of sodium chloride salinity stress (control, 30, 40, 50, and 60mM). Experimental design utilized was factorial completely randomized block with three replicates in each treatment. In addition, the sodium (Na+)/ potassium (K+) ratio in leaves and roots of all ornamental tree species was determined. Based upon nutrients content and Na+/K+, the order of salinity tolerance observed in the study was Casuarina equisetifolia > Acacia auriculiformis > Callistemon lanceolatus > Putranjiva roxburghii.