EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS SUPPLY ON YIELD AND NODULE FUNCTIONING OF C. ARIETINUM L. GROWING UNDER SALINITY

Crop yields are primarily limited under salinity conditions in Mediterranean region. This study was conducted to determine the effects of two doses of phosphorus fertilization (90kg P2O5 ha?1, 200kg P2O5 ha?1) in saline soil on improvement of crop productivity and salinity tolerance of chickpea cv Flip 74-92C. Salinity may not effect plant growth but reduced nodulation and crop production. Indeed, salt stress expressed greater adverse effects on nodule traits consequently affected nodule functioning. However, the mixture of fertilizer to salinity (90kg P2O5 ha?1X NaCl) improved significantly grain yield (about 30%). This combination reduced significantly pro line content, and protected membranes against peroxydation. Indeed, the low P level mixed to salinity induced similar responses and sometimes better to plants control. This approach might attenuate and/or suppressed the adverse effects of salinity, increase the uptake of nutrients from the soil and improve salinity tolerance.