Water salinity and supplemental nutrients enhancing biochemical contents and antioxidant activity of salicornia bigelovii naturally grown on northwest coast of egypt

Halophytes became one of the most important candidates for future due to their high salt tolerance and bioactive compounds content as well as their medicinal raw materials, nutraceutical, functional and health properties. Thus, Salicornia bigelovii is a promising halophytic crop for seawater and saltwater irrigated agriculture in many countries. This study was conducted to investigate the response of Salicornia bigelovii to four different levels of well water and sea water (100%well water), (100% sea water), (50% sea water +50% well water) and (25% sea water + 75% well water) with EC 2.4, 51, 30 and 17dS m-1, respectively combined with four different supplemental nutrients fertilization (NPK), (NPK+ Micronutrients), (Algae) and (NPK+ Micronutrients+ Algae) in addition to control treatment. The highest antioxidant activity and total soluble phenols content were recorded with control treatment (without irrigation) followed by irrigation with 50% sea water + 50% well water (30 dS m-1) which resulted also in the maximum content of flavonoids. Total carbohydrates percentage was increased with 25 % sea water +75% well water (17 dS m-1) and decreased with increasing salinity level up to 30 and 51 dS m-1. Plants irrigated with 50% sea water +50% well water (30dS m-1) and fertilized with NPK+ Micronutrients+ Algaerecorded the highest values of whole plant dry weight, nitrogen and protein percentages as well as total free amino acids content. On the other hand, the addition of 100% sea water (51dS m-1) combined with NPK+ Micronutrients+ Algae recorded the maximum content of proline. Irrigation with 100% sea water (51dS m-1) and addition of NPK only gave the highest values of antioxidant activity and total carbohydrates percentage. Moreover, the irrigation with 50% sea water + 50% well water (30dS m-1) combined with NPK fertilizer resulted in the maximum values of total soluable phenols and flavnoids content. The high salt tolerance and supplemental nutrient fertilization increasedthe biochemical contents and antioxidant activity of Salicornia bigelovii naturally grown on Mariut site Northwest Coast of Egypt.