High and Low Sodium Biotypes of Fourwing Saltbush: Their Responses to Sodium and Potassium in Retorted Oil Shale

Abstract

Two of 5 populations of fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) examined in eastern Utah did not accumulate appreciable amounts of sodium in leaf tissue while 3 populations did accumulate sodium in leaves. The characteristics of sodium accumulation and nonaccumulation were exhibited in these populations when leaf tissue was collected from plants growing in the field or from plants grown in saline retorted oil shale in 2 greenhouse pot experiments. The plants that were low in sodium were higher in potassium but lower in total sodium plus potassium. Growth of plants from the low sodium populations was enhanced by addition of potassium to the retorted oil shale but potassium addition had no effect on growth of the high sodium plants. Top growth of the high sodium plants was greater than growth of the low sodium plants on retorted oil shale.