The Effect of Soil Compaction on Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium Uptake in and out of the Least Limiting Water Range in Pistachio, cv. Sarakhs, Seedlings

In order to study the behavior of pistachio seedlings (Pistachio vera L.) at various moisture levels and soil compaction levels at a greenhouse in a sandy loam soil with a nested design was conducted in which four levels of soil compaction and six moisture levels in three replications were applied. A total of 24 moisture levels to nest within 4 soil compaction levels and nested design were conducted based on completely randomized design. Four soil compaction levels (1.35, 1.5, 1.65 and 1.8 g/cm3) within a cylindrical building and after transferring the pistachio seedlings into soil cylinders and their establishment, six different volumetric water contents, from permanent wilting point to saturation, for each compaction level were applied. Soil compaction reduced shoot dry weight and concentration and uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the shoots and roots of pistachio. High and low moisture reduces parameters at different soil compaction levels, and soil compaction adverse effects of stress on the parameters escalated. The density of 1.35, 1.5 and 1.8 g/cm3 highest concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus of root, highest amount of nitrogen and potassium of roots and highest amount of phosphorus of shoots and roots were observed in the least limiting water range. The density of 1.8 g/cm3 maximum dry weight of shoots and roots, the maximum amount of nitrogen of shoot, highest concentration and amount of potassium were observed in the least limiting water range. Overall, soil compaction and high and deficit soil moisture content reduced parameter being measured.