Improvement of Root Yield and Ion Content of Carrot with Exogenous Application Calcium Under Salinity

Effects of saline irrigation waters on carrot root yield and leaf nutrient accumulations and the potential role of supplementary calcium treatments in alleviating the harmful effects of saline irrigation waters were investigated. Experiments were conducted in a fully randomized—factorial experimental design with four replications. Carrot plants were subjected to 5 different NaCl (control, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mM) concentrations and 3 different supplementary Ca (0, 4 and 8 mM) treatments. Carrot root yields significantly decreased with increasing irrigation water salinity levels. Increasing irrigation water salinity levels reduced leaf macro and micronutrients and increased leaf Na and Cl contents. Supplementary Ca treatments increased root yields and leaf K, Ca, and P contents. Positive effects of supplementary Ca treatments were generally observed at low and moderate (≤ 60 mM) salinity levels. Supplementary Ca treatments did not positively affect leaf Cl, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, and B contents. Reduced leaf Na content with supplementary Ca treatments is a remarkable outcome for the salt tolerance of the plants. Present findings revealed that supplementary Ca treatments could be used to improve crop performance in the case of low and moderate salinity levels in irrigation waters.