Investigating the effect of long-term use of water with Ca/Mg<1 on soil chemical characteristics and ionic composition of fertile pistachio trees

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research

Authors

1 Assistant prof., Faculty member, National Salinity Research Center (NSRC), Agricultural Research, Education ‎and Extension ‎Organization (AREEO), Yazd, Iran‎‏.‏‎

2 Associate Prof., Faculty member, National Salinity Research Center (NSRC), Agricultural Research, Education ‎and Extension ‎Organization (AREEO), Yazd, Iran‎‏.‏‎‎

3 Yazd Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Education ‎and Extension ‎Organization (AREEO), Yazd, Iran.

4 Yazd Province Agricultural Jahad Organization ‎, Yazd, Iran

Abstract

Calcium and magnesium are the essential nutrients for plant growth due to their critical roles in cellular structure and physiological processes. However, the ratio of these elements is a key parameter for evaluating quality of irrigation water and saturated soil extracts. This study investigated the impact of irrigation water with a calcium-to-magnesium (Ca/Mg) ratio of less than 1 on 15 fertile pistachio orchards, soil chemical properties, as well as the uptake and distribution of these elements within plants. Results revealed that sodium, calcium, and magnesium were the dominant cations contributing to salinity in the analyzed water and soil samples and variations in soil salinity at different depths were directly associated with the salinity of irrigation water. A positive correlation was observed between the Ca/Mg ratio in the soil and irrigation water; however, no consistent relationship was identified between the electrical conductivity (EC) of the saturated soil extract and the Ca/Mg ratio in the soil solution, and electrical conductivity of irrigation water and its Ca/Mg ratio. Analysis of leaf and root samples demonstrated that calcium concentrations in contrast with magnesium were below the optimal threshold for pistachio leaves in all cases. Magnesium concentrations in the leaves were higher than in the roots. Additionally, an inverse relationship was identified between calcium and magnesium levels in pistachio roots. Increases in soil magnesium and calcium levels enhanced leaf magnesium and root calcium, respectively. Foliar application of calcium-based fertilizers and the use of soil amendment are recommended in pistachio orchards with irrigation water by Ca/Mg<1.

Keywords

Land Management Journal

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 13 October 2025

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