Effect of Sodium Chloride Levels on Four Foliage Plants Grown at Two Light Levels1

Abstract
Brassaia actinophylla Endl., Dieffenbachia maculata (Lodd) G. Don ‘Perfection’, Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoviana E. Morr., and Stromanthe amabilis (Linden) E. Morr. were grown in an organic potting medium at either 325 μE m−2s−1 (16.1 klx) or 9 μE m−2s−1 (0.7 klx). Brassaia and Dieffenbachia height and dry weight were unaffected by NaCl levels with potting medium solution electrical conductivity (EC) values ranging from 2.5 to 10.2 mmho/cm under low light or from 0.5 to 5.2 mmho/cm under high light levels. Maranta dry weight was reduced and leaf necrosis was increased at an EC value of 4.2 mmho/cm when compared to lower EC values under low light; under high light, leaf necrosis was greater at EC values of 2.7 and 4.3 mmho/cm than at 0.5 mmho/cm. At low light levels, Stromanthe dry weight, leaf count, and leaf necrosis were unaffected by NaCl level, but at high light levels, shoot dry weight was reduced at media EC values above 0.5 mmho/cm.

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