Study on cultivating highdrought resistant Nitraria tangutorum plants with Na compound fertilizer application

Abstract： In this study, the morphological indexes, biomass and Na+ and K+ contents of potted Nitraria tangutorum with Na compound fertilizer application were determined to investigate the effects of Na compound fertilizer on drought resistance of N. tangutorum. The results indicated that compared with control (no fertilizer) and diammonium phosphate, Na compound fertilizer improved significantly plant height by 109% and 45%, root length by 95% and 57%, main stem diameter by 88% and 43%, main root diameter by 85% and 22%, fresh weight by 236% and 68%, shoot Na+ content by 49% and 24%, and root Na+ content by 14% and 11%, respectively (P0.05). At the end of growth period, 11% of Na+ contents in Na compound fertilizer was absorbed by N. tangutorum, 67% left in the potted soil, which could be absorbed by N. tangutorum in the following years. The leached Na+ contents only accounted for only 6% of soil Na+ content. Our results indicated that Na compound fertilizer could not only promote the growth also improve droughttolerance of N. tangutorum and had nonsignificant effects on soil environment.