EFFECT OF SALINITY AND NITROGEN APPLICATION ON GROWTH, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND SOME BIOCHEMICAL INDICES OF PISTACHIO SEEDLINGS (PISTACIA VERA L.)

To study the effect of nitrogen and salinity on growth and chemical composition of pistachio seedlings (cv. 'Badami'), a greenhouse experiment was conducted. Treatments consisted of four salinity levels [ 0, 800, 1600, and 2400 mg sodium chloride (NaCl) kg(-1) soil], and four nitrogen (N) levels (0, 60, 120, and 180 mg kg(-1) soil as urea). Treatments were arranged in a factorial manner in a completely randomized design with three replications. The highest level of nitrogen and salinity decreased leaf and root dry weights. Nitrogen application significantly increased the concentration of shoot N and salinity suppressed shoot N concentration. Salinity and nitrogen fertilization increased shoot and root sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) concentrations. Nitrogen application increased proline concentration and reducing sugar content. Although salinity levels increased proline concentration a specific trend on reducing sugars content was not observed.