Effects of Salt and Potassium Applications on Some Agronomic and Reflectance Characteristics along with Leaf Water Status of Maize

This study was conducted to determine the effects of potassium deficiency and different potassium levels applied under salt stress conditions on some agronomic features, biomass, leaf water indicators and spectral characteristics at early growth period of maize in vitro conditions in 2012. In this experiment, two different salinity (0.5 and 4.0 ds m-1) and four different potassium levels (14 kg da-1, 28 kg da-1, 56 kg da-1 84 kg da-1) were applied. Agronomic measurements (plant canopy width, plant height and trunk diameter), biomass (fresh and dry weight), leaf water indicators (relative water content (RWC), equivalent water thickness (EWT), leaf water content (LWC)) and some indices based on spectral measurements were also calculated. It was seen that plant canopy width, plant height and trunk diameter were not affected by salinity level which applied over the level of tolerance, if sufficient potassium levels are applied at early growth period of maize. The highest values of leaf water indicators were obtained at 0.5 ds m-1 salinity and 14 kg da-1 potassium rates. It was seen that leaf water content was decreased at higher salinity levels but it was increased again at higher potassium levels. On the other hand, biomass values showed a trend in contrast to water content. The difference between the treatments was found to be significant at PRI (photochemical reflectance index). Correlation analysis results showed that there was a meaningful relationship (0.58–0.75) between leaf water indicators and PRI.