Physiological response of tomato from induced sodium chloride stress

The major problem for small-scale Ethiopian farmers is field salinity in semi-arid areas induced by poor irrigation practices. This adversely affects vegetable production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of crop tolerance and productivity to induced sodium chloride in the growing medium. There was a significant reduction in fruit yield between treated and untreated plants. However, when the plants from different salt levels were compared (irrespective of concentration) there was no significant difference; similarly, there was no interaction between the lowest and highest level. Conditioning the plants with low salt levels to acclimatize them did not confer salt tolerance. When fruit size was measured, salt concentration influenced it in proportion to the concentration. Salinity had a limited effect on fruit pH and EC, but soluble solids, malic and citric acids were more significantly affected and were highest when salt was applied in the irrigation water at 51.33 mM. The concentration of malic acid in the fruit was higher than citric acid.