Abstract
The present investigation was aimed at assessing the ion accumulation and response in two cotton varieties
under hydroponics, grown at K+
, Na+
levels i.e. 3 mM K, 2.25 mM K +0.75 mM Na, 0.3 mM K+2.7 mM Na and 0.3
mM K using Johnsons’s nutrient solution. Dry matter partitioning and ions (K+
, Na+
) distribution in older leaves
(OL), younger leaves (YL), stem, primary (PR) and secondary roots (SR) were measured and compared between
two cotton varieties at 10, 20, and 30 days of transplanting. The results explained that dry matter, ionic absorption
and K:Na ratio were affected by translocation of K+,Na+
within different plant parts. Maximum total biomass (6.22 g
plant-1) was produced by NIBGE-2 followed by MNH-786 after 30 days of transplanting. Average dry matter of
stem (2.54 g) i.e. 41% of total dry matter (TDM) was noted in NIBGE-2 that was higher than dry matter of OL
(2.24 g), YL (1.0 g), PR (0.22 g) and SR (0.21 g). Maximum mean K:Na ratio was computed in YL of both
varieties as compared to other plant parts at K+Na levels @ 2.25+0.75mM. There was significant relationship
(R2
=0.83, 0.90, n=4 i.e. mean of 3 replicates) between stem dry matter and K+
contents in stem for NIBGE-2 and
MNH-786 respectively, at 30 days after transplanting.
