Interactive Effects of Salinity and Nitrogen on Mineral N Status in Soil and Growth and Yield of German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)

In a pot experiment, the status of NH₄ and NO₃-N at harvest was significantly higher at higher level of salinity in N fertilized soils. However, with no N fertilization, both NH₄ and NO₃-N increased with increase in salinity up to 5 dS m⁻¹ and beyond which it decreased. Both and NO₃-N decreased at low salinity (0.5 and 5 dS mol⁻¹) and increased at high salinity (10.0 and 15.0 dS m⁻¹) with the application of N. Drymatter and flower yield and uptake of N, P, K, Ca and Mg decreased with increase in salinity. N fertilization significantly increased the drymatter and flower yield and uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na; the effects were more pronounced at low level of salinity.