The work was performed in the greenhouse, aiming to evaluate the effect of salt stress on distribution of nutrients in different parts of maize cultivars differing in their tolerance to salinity. The experiment was carried out on 2 x 5 factorial arrangement with two maize cultivars (P-3051 and BR-5011) and five sodium chloride levels in nutrient solution (0, 25, 50, 75 or 100 mol m-3). Salt stress increased Na+ content and decreased K+ content in all plant parts. Na+ content was higher in stalk and sheath than in leaf blade tissue. Ca++ content decreased in root, stalk and leaf blade while Mg++ content decreased only in root and in stalk tissue. Root Ca++ content in the cultivar P-3051 under 100 mol m-3 NaCl was 60% higher than in the cultivar BR-5011. The salt treatment increased Na+/K+, Na+/Ca++ and Na+/Mg++ ratios in all plant parts, and the increment was higher in the P-3051 than in the BR-5011 cultivar.
mineral nutrition; potassium; calcium; magnesium
