Chin J Plan Ecolo ›› 1994, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (1): 34-40.

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Distribution and Accumulation of K+ and Na+ in Five Salt-Tolerant Forage Plants in a Song-Nen Plain Steppe

Yin Li-juan, shi De-cheng, Xue Ping   

  • Published:1994-01-10
  • Contact: Du Xiao-guang

Abstract: The patterns of accumulation and distribution of K+ and Na+ in the tissues of Aneurolepidium chinense(Kitag), Puccinellia tenuiflora (Scribn. et Merr.), Chloris virgata (SW.), Aelirepus litoralis var. sinensis and Suaeda glauca (Bunge) in a saline grassland of Song-Nen Plain were discussed. The results showed that S. glauca had the highest Na+ concentration (5,491.0μmol Na/g dw), followed by A. litoralis and P. tenuiflora which had 225.85 and 177.7μmol Na/g. dw, respectively. The lowest levels were found in A. chinense and C. virgata which contained 20.2 and ll.31μmol Na/g. dw, respectively. The Na+ content of these species was correlated with the levels of Na+ in the soil. The Na/K ratio was highest in S. glauca (25.74) and lowest in C. virgata(0.028).The sodium accumulation (y=μmol Na/g dw) in A. chinense and C. virgata could be best described by an equation y=Ym/[-1+e(a+b1x1+b2x2)], where x1 is the soil salt content and x2 is the soil PH. In S. glauca, P. tenuiflora and A. litoralis, the Na+ accumulation was described by the equation y = a + b1x1 +b2x2. The Na+ accumulation rate, which was defined as the % increase in the Na+ concentration in the tissues of grass for every 0.1% increase in the soil salt content, followed the order of C. virgata>A. chinense>P. tenuiflora, A. Litoralis var. sinensis and S. glauca. The younger tissues, having a more active metabolism, were found to be the major sinks of accumulated Na+ with increasing soil salinity. The Na+ accumulation rate in C. virgata was markedly increased in different plant tissues, while K+ content decreased with the increase in the Na+ accumulation rate. However, in S. glauca the rate of K+ accumulation increased with the increased in the rate of Na+ accumulation.