The effect of K on the salt tolerance of the bioenergy plant hybrid Pennisetum

More than 6% of the world's total land area is impacted by salt. Most cultivated plants are sensitive to salt stress, and NaCl salinity, which results in ionic disturbance, osmotic and toxic effects, and which usually causes a great reduction in vegetative growth, rate of photosynthesis and an imbalance in plant nutrient uptake. Potassium (K) deprivation resulting from NaCl salinity, is expected to have a large and rapid negative effect on the rate of leaf expansion and final growth. Therefore, K is frequently the main limiting element for plant growth and development during the ecological transformation of saline impacted land. The results indicated that a supply of suitable concentrations of K[sup +] (6 mmol/L) can significantly alleviate the inhibition of growth and photosynthesis caused by salinity in hybrid pennisetum. The findings would provide a theoretical basis for practical application when large-scale cultivation of hybrid pennisetum occurs on saline land.