Effect of salinity stress and humic acid foliar application on morphophysiological characteristics of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Professor, Department of Arid Lands Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.

2 M.Sc., Department of Arid Lands Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Samanghan University, Samanghan, Afghanistan

4 Associate Professor, Department of Arid Lands Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

10.29252/aridbiom.2026.4287

Abstract

Salinity stress is one of the most important limiting factors for the growth and production of various plants, and it can affect growth and physiological indices of plants. This research was conducted to investigate the effect of salinity stress on some morphological and physiological traits of chicory and to evaluate the role of humic acid in mitigating the adverse effects of this stress. The experiment was carried out as a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications under greenhouse conditions. The factors examined included four salinity levels of 0.6 (control), 2, 4, and 8 dS m⁻¹ and three humic acid levels of 0, 0.5, and 1 g L⁻¹. The measured traits included chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, proline, soluble sugars, shoot dry weight, root volume, root dry weight, plant height, leaf number, canopy volume, and root length. The results showed that increasing salinity stress significantly increased proline and soluble sugar content and significantly decreased most morphological traits and chlorophyll content. Application of humic acid improved growth traits and increased chlorophyll content, while simultaneously reducing proline and soluble sugar levels at different salinity levels compared to the control. The concentration of 0.5 g L⁻¹ humic acid showed a more favorable effect on many morphological traits, especially under moderate and severe salinity, whereas the concentration of 1 g L⁻¹ was more effective for most physiological traits, particularly in increasing chlorophyll content and reducing the accumulation of proline and soluble sugars. Overall, humic acid foliar application was able to partially mitigate the negative effects of salinity in chicory plants; however, evaluation of its economic efficiency requires additional field studies.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

[1]. Abu-Ria, M., Shukry, W., Abo-Hamed, S., Albaqami, M., Almuqadam, L. & Ibraheem, F. (2023). Humic acid modulates ionic homeostasis, osmolytes content, and antioxidant defense to improve salt tolerance in rice. Plants. 12. 1834. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants1 2091834
[2]. Aliloo, A.A., Shiriazar, Z., Dashti, Sh., Shahabivand, S. & Pourmohammad, A. (2020). Alleviating effects of humic acid on germination and vegetative growth of canola under salinity stress. Journal of Plant Research. 33(4). 970-981. https:// doi.org/ 20.1001.1.238325 92.139 9. 33.4 .1.7 [in Farsi]
[3]. Aghaleh, M. & Niknam,V. (2009). Effect of salinity on some physiological and biochemical parameters in explants of two cultivars of soybean (Glyicine max L.). Journal of Phytology. 1(2). 86-94. [in Farsi]
[4]. Alizadeh, A. (2005). The relationship between water, soil and plants. Astan Quds Publications. P. 227 [in Farsi]
[5]. Amiryousefi, M., Tadayon, M.R. & Ebrahimi, R. (2021). The effect of chemical and biological fertilizers on some physiological and yield traits of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) under drought stress in saline soil. Journal of Agroecology. 13(2). 251.270. https:// doi.org/10.22067/jag.v13i2.79212 [in Farsi]
[6]. Aziza, E. E., Al-Amir, H. & Craker, L. E. (2008). Influence of salt stress on growth and essential oil production in peppermint, pennyroyal and apple mint. Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants. 14. 77-87. https://doi.org/10.1080 /10496470802341375
[7]. Bates, L., Waldren, R.P. & Teare, I.D. (1973). Rapid Determination of Free Proline for Water Stress Studies. Plant and Soil. 39. 205-207.
[8]. Dehban Nejadian, K., Ghanbari, Y. & Barghi, H. (2023). Assessing and measuring the sustainability of rural settlements active in the field of medicinal plants (Case study- Kohgiluyeh & Boyerahmad province). Journal of Research and Rural Planning.12(2). 19-36. https://doi.org/ 10 .22067/jrrp.v12i2.2212-1063
[9]. Eshghi, S. & Garazhian. M. (2015). Improving the vegetative and reproductive growth of strawberry cultivar Parous by foliar application and application of humic acid soil. Iranian Agricultural Research. 34(1). 14-20. https://doi.org/10.22099/iar.2015.3031 [in Farsi]
[10]. Gholami, R., Kashefi, B. & Saeidi Sar, S. (2013). Effect salicylic acid on alleviation of salt stress on growth traits of Salvia limbata L. Journal of Plant Ecophysiology. 5(15). 63-73. [in Farsi]
[11]. Ghorbanli, N., Adib hashemi,N. & Peyvandi, M. (2010). Study of salinity and ascorbic acid on some physiological responses of Nigella sativa L., Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. 26(3). 369-388. https://doi.org/ 10.22092/ijmapr.2010.6799 [in Farsi]
[12]. Heidary, M., Abdolzade, A. & Farzame, F. (2011). Effect of different levels of salinity and nitrogen sources on growth and chemical contents in Psyllium (Plantago ovata F.). Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science. 42(1). 199-207. [in Farsi]
[13]. Joushan, Z., Sodeizadeh, H., Hakimzadeh Ardakani, M.A., Yazdani Biouki,R. & Khajeh Hosseini, S. (2020). Investigating the effect of foliar application of glycine betaine on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of mint (Mentha spicata L.) under salinity stress. Plant Productions. 43(2). 267-280. https:// doi.org/ 10.22055/ppd.2019.27413.1666 [in Farsi]
[14]. Kalharmanfard, R. & Faridnia, A. (2020). Effect of foliar application of humic acid and cytokinin on some qualitative traits of the medicinal plant chicory (Cichorium intybus L.). 17th National Congress and 3rd International Congress of Agricultural Sciences and Plant Breeding of Iran, Kerman, Iran.
[15]. Khasawneh, A.R. & Othman, Y.A. (2020). Organic farming and conservation tillage influenced soil health component. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin. 29. 895-902.
[16]. Kochert, G. (1978). Carbohydrate determination by the phenol sulfuric acid method. In: Helebust J.A. and Craig J.S. (Eds.): Hand book of psychologia method, 56-97. Cambridge University Press.
[17]. Kulikova, N. A., Stepanova, E. V. & Koroleva, O.V. (2005). Mitigating activity of humic substances: Direct influence on biota. In: Perminova, I. V., Hatfield, K. and Hertkorn, N. (Eds.): Use of humic substances to remediate polluted environments: From theory to practice. Kluwer Academic Publishers, USA, pp. 285- 309.
[18]. Lasheen, F.F., Hewidy, M., Abdelhamid, A.N., Thabet, R.S., Abass, M.M., Fahmy, A.A., Saudy, H.S. & Hassan, K.M. (2024). Exogenous application of humic acid mitigates salinity stress on pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira) plant by adjusting the osmolytes and nutrient homeostasis. Gesunde Pflanzen. 76.317-325. https:// doi.org/10.1007/s10343-023-00939-9
[19]. Lichenthaler, H. K. (1987). Chlorophylls and carotenoids pigment
photosynthetic membranes. Methods Enzymol. 148. 350-382. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/0076-6879(87)48036-1
[20]. Mohammad, A., A. Bakry,Y., Solima, R.A. & Moussa, S.A.M. (2009). Importance of micronutrients organic manure and bio-fertilizer for improving maize yield and its components grown in desert sandy soil. Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences. 5. 16-23. [in Farsi]
[21]. Mohammadi, H., Abdollahi‑ Bast am, S., Aghaee, A. & Ghorbanpour, M. (2024). Foliar-applied silicate potassium modulates growth, phytochemical, and physiological traits in Cichorium intybus L. under salinity stress. BMC Plant Biology. 24. 288. http s://doi.org/10. 1186/s12870-024-05015-6
[22]. Mousavi, A.M., Barzegar, T., Nekounam, F., Ghahremani, Z. & Khani, A. (2024). The effect of humic acid on physiological characteristics, antioxidant activity and yield of Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) under deficit irrigation. Journal of Plant Process and Function. 12(54). 171-185. http://jispp .iut. ac.ir/article-1-1795-en.html [in Farsi]
[23]. Petropoulos, S.A., Levizou, E., Ntatsi, G., Fernandes, A., Petrotos, K., Akoumianakis, K., Barros, L. & Ferreira, I. (2017). Salinity effect on nutritional value, chemical composition and bioactive compounds content of Cichorium spinosum L. Food Chemistry. 214. 129-136. https://doi.org /10.1016/ j. foodchem.2016.07.080
[24]. Piri, P., Khavaninzadeh, A. & Sodaeizadeh, H. (2020). Effect of salicylic acid on germination of three species of Artichoke, Fennel and Black cumin under salinity stress. Journal of Range and Watershed Management. 72(4). 911-925. https://doi.org /10.22059 /jrwm.2019. 274658.1346 [in Farsi]
 [25]. Rahmani, F., Sodaeizadeh, H., Yazdani-Biouki, R., Hakimzadeh-Ardakani, MA. & Kamali Aliabadi, K. (2024). Effect of bio-priming on morphological, physiological and essential oil of Chamomile (Matricariac hamomilla L.) under salinity stress. South African Journal of Botany. 167. 630-642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2024.02.054
[26]. Roshaniyan, M., Alinejadian-Bidabadi, A., Maleki, A. & Lakzian, A. (2025). Investigating the effect of humic acid on the water use efficiency, yield, and some physiological characteristics of bell pepper plants under different water levels. Journal of Vegetables Sciences, Spring & summer. 17(1), 179-200. https: //doi.org /1 0.22034/ iuvs.2023. 2012442. 1319 [in Farsi]
[27]. Sabouri, F., Siroosmehr, A.R., & Gorgini Shabankareh, H. (2017). Effect of irrigation regimes and humic acid solution on some morphological and physiological characteristics of Satureja hortensis. Iranian Journal of Plant Biology. 9)34). 13-24. https://doi.org/ 10. 22108/ijpb. 2018.22437 [in Farsi]
[28]. Sairam, R.K. & Tyagi, A. (2004). Physiology and molecular biology of salinity stress tolerance in plants. Current Science. 86(3). 407–421. 86(3). https:// doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4225-6
[29]. Shahab, J., Sodaeizadeh, H., Zaree, W., & Sakhi Zadeh M. A. (2026). Investigating the effect of humic acid and farmyard manure on the growth and yield of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) landraces under the climatic conditions of Samangan-Afghanistan. Iranian Journal of Pulses Research, 17(1), 135-150. https://doi.org/10.22067/ijpr.2026.98849.1136 ]In Persian [
[30]. Sheteawi, S.A. (2007). Improving growth and yield of salt-stressed soybean by exogenous application of jasmonic acid and ascobin. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology. 9(3). 473-478.
 [31]. Shirzadi, F., Dastourani, M. & Khashei Siuki, A. (2020). Investigating the effect of combined low irrigation and different cultivation litters on
 
 morphological specification of chicory. Journal of Water and Soil Conservation. 27(2). 145-160. https://doi.org/ 10.22069 /jwsc.2020.16771.3208 [in Farsi]
[32]. Sodaeizadeh, H., Shamsaie, M., Tajamoliyan, M., Mirmohammadi Meybodi, A.M. & Hakimzadeh, M. (2016). The effects of water stress on some morphological and physiological characteristics of Satureja hortensis. Journal of Plant Process and Function. 5(15). 1-11. http://jispp.iut.ac.ir/article-1-344-en.html [in Farsi]
[33]. Sodaeizadeh, H., Hokmollahi, F., Ghasemi, S., Sadeghian, M. & Tarrah, S. (2025). Cyanobacteria inoculation mitigates salinity stress by regulating plant growth, photosynthetic performance, elemental concentrations and yield in wheat. South African Journal of Botany. 180. 857-869. https://doi.org /10.1016 /j.sa jb.2025.04.006
[34]. Sohrabizadeh, Z., Sodaeizadeh, H. & Mosleh Arani, A. (2023). Role of mucilage in improving seedling emergence of Ocimum basilicum L. exposed to salinity stress. Rhizosphere. 26. 100684. https://doi.org/10.1016 /j.rhis ph.2023.100684
[35]. Vaughan, D.  & Linehan, D. (1976). The growth of wheat plants in humic acid solutions under axenic conditions. Plant Soil. 44. 445-449. https://doi.org/10.1007 / BF00015895
[36]. Xudan, X. (1986). The effect of foliar application of fulvic acid on water use, nutrient uptake and wheat yield. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research. 37. 343- 350. https://doi.org /10.1071/AR9860343
[37]. Zaremanesh, H., Eisvand, H.R., Akbari, N., Ismaili, A & Feizian, M. (2020). An investigation of effects of humic acid on changes in nutrients concentration of leaf, root and stem of Satureja khuzestanica under salinity stress. Plant process and function. 10(41). 1-16. http://jispp.iut.ac.ir/article-1-1428-en.html [in Farsi]
Journal of Arid Biome
Volume 16, Issue 1
March 2026
Pages 109-122

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics