Effects of NaCl Salinity and Soil Waterlogging on the Concentrations of Some Micronutrients in Corn, Single Cross 704

In this research، the effects of salinity and soil waterlogging on the concentrations of Fe، Cu، Zn and Mn in forage corn (Zea mays cv. single cross 704) shoot and root were studied in greenhouse conditions. A factorial experiment on the basis of completely randomized design with three replications was performed. The experimental factors were duration of waterlogging in five levels (0، 2، 4، 8، 20 days) and soil saturated extract electrical conductivity (EC) in four levels (0. 11، 2، 4، 8 dS/m). A loamy sand soil for plant growth substrate and NaCl salt for establishing the levels of salinity were used. The salinity and waterlogging factors imposed simultaneously at the five-leaf stage of plant growth. The plants were harvested after 60 days of growth and the concentrations of Fe، Cu، Zn and Mn in shoot and root were determined. The results showed that under non-waterlogged conditions، by addition of NaCl salt، the concentrations of Fe، Cu and Mn in shoot and those of Fe، Cu and Zn in root were decreased but that of Zn in shoot was increased; while the root concentration of Mn did not change significantly. Under waterlogged conditions، the effect of NaCl addition on the concentrations of Fe، Cu، Zn and Mn in shoot and root was dependent on the duration of soil waterlogging. Without NaCl addition، the shoot concentrations of Fe، Cu and Mn and the root concentrations of Fe، Cu and Zn were lower under waterlogged conditions than non-waterlogged conditions، while the concentration of Zn in shoot and that of Mn in root under waterlogged conditions were not significantly different from non-waterlogged conditions. At NaCl added conditions، the effect of the duration of soil waterlogging on the concentrations of Fe، Cu، Zn and Mn in shoot and root was dependent on the salinity level. The corn plant accumulated Zn in shoot under saline conditions (4 and 8 dS/m) and in root under non-saline conditions (0. 11 and 2 dS/m). The Zn concentration of shoot was greater than that of root under waterlogged and non-waterlogged conditions. In all studied conditions، the corn plant accumulated Fe، Cu and Mn in root. The results demonstrated that even short periods of soil waterlogging had significant effect on the Fe، Cu، Zn and Mn concentrations of shoot and root of forage corn.