Effects of Conjunctive Use of Different Amounts of Saline and Non-Saline Waters on Vegetative Growth of Date Offshoots

Mixing saline and non-saline water is one of the management methods for using saline water resources. This research was carried out to study the effects of conjunctive use of saline and non-saline water on vegetative growth of Barhee date offshoot. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with six treatments and three replications. The treatments included: T1= irrigation with the Karun River water (2.3 dS/m), T2= irrigation with Karun River water and saline water of 5 dS/m (volume ratio 2:1), T3= irrigation with Karun River water and saline water of 8 dS/m (volume ratio 2:1), T4= irrigation with Karun River water and saline water of 5 dS/m (volume ratio 1:2), T5= irrigation with Karun River water and saline water of 8 dS/m (volume ratio 1:2), and T6= irrigation with saline water of 5 dS/m. The offshoots water requirement was calculated based on FAO pan evaporation method. The results showed that irrigation treatments had significant effect (P<1%) on plant vegetative traits. There was no significant difference (P<1%) between T1 and T2 in leaf length, number of leaflets, and shoot wet and dry weights of date offshoot. The number of leaves and leaflets of the plant decreased by 64.9% and 58.2%, respectively, in treatment of irrigation with saline water of 5 dS/m compared to T1. While reduction amounts of these vegetative traits in T2 were zero and 8.2%, respectively. Also, shoot wet and dry weights of date offshoot in T6 was decreased by 64.7% and 67.5%, respectively; but, in T2, these vegetative traits decreased only by 7.7% and 8.6%, respectively.