Potential of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) for phytodesalination of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and chlorine under different water salinity stresses

This study was conducted to evaluate the ability to grow and reduce water salinity by quinoa and wheat plants in greenhouse and hydroponic. This research was conducted in the form of a two-factor factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments included 4 salinity levels of zero (control), 5, 10 and 15 dS / m and two species of wheat and quinoa. In this study, traits such as total plant dry weight, accumulation of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and total plant chlorine and the efficiency of water uptake by plants were measured. The results of this study showed that quinoa has more ability to absorb and accumulate elements than wheat and is a plant resistant to salinity stress. The results showed that the concentrations of sodium, chlorine and magnesium per plant (5.48, 10.12 and 1.12 g for wheat and 10.76, 11.65 and 2.66 g for wheat, respectively). Absorption efficiency of sodium, chlorine and magnesium from water (12.28%, 11.30% and 20.22% for wheat and 23.12%, 14.60% and 24.79% for quinoa, respectively). The results also showed that the amount of sodium, chlorine and magnesium accumulated in the plant and the efficiency of phytodesalination of sodium, chlorine and magnesium from saline water significantly increased with increasing in salinity for both wheat and quinoa. In the case of calcium and potassium bioaccumulation and phytodesalination efficiency decreased with increasing salinity. As a result, quinoa showed a significant bioaccumulation efficiency in dry weight production, compared to wheat, so it can be considered as an alternative plant for cultivation in salinity and dry climate conditions.