Absorption of potassium, Sodium, Calcium and Phosphorus by two date palm cultivars and the effect of gibberellin treatment

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the K, Na, Ca, and P uptake by seedlings of two date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars, Khedhri and Sekkeri as well as the effect of gibberellin (GA3) treatment. Khedhri cultivar showed a typical hyperbolic curve of absorption of K,N, and low concentration of Ca (up to 5mM) but at higher Ca concentration, there seems to be another phase of absorption. Sekkeri cultivar exhibited similar but lower absorption rate of K and Ca while Na seems to be extruded at lower substrate concentration. The rate of P uptake by Sekkeri was irregular. Applied GA3 slightly stimulate Na uptake by Sekkeri cultivar but at 10-4M GA3 enhancement of both Ca and P accumulations in both cultivars was observed.