Abstract

The interaction between sodium and calcium, magnesium and calcium and the
combined effect of sodium, magnesium and calcium was observed on the growth and
ion uptake of Hippophae rhamnoides L. The results demonstrated that an addition of
sodium with calcium, (set a, Na 2.5 + Ca 5 mM) showed prominent increase in fresh
weight of roots and shoots. The dry weight (average) of roots decreased and that of
shoots increased but the percent dry weight of both roots and shoots decreased
following an increase in percent water content. An addition of magnesium with
calcium, (set b, Mg 2.5 + Ca 5 mM) showed an increase in fresh and dry weight
(average and percentage of root and shoot), while percent water content decreased.
The addition of sodium and magnesium with calcium , (set c, Na 2.5 +Mg 2.5 + Ca
5 mM) showed an increase in fresh and dry weight (average) of roots and shoots, while percentage dry weight of roots decreased and that of shoots increased and the
percentage water content of roots increased and that of shoots decreased. The
treatments of sets a, b and c increased the uptake of all ions studied. However, a
difference in ion uptake within treatments occurred. It appears that the presence of
calcium mitigates the adverse effects of sodium and magnesium by preventing their
uptake and enhances the uptake of potassium