MINERAL-COMPOSITION OF FLAX (LINUM-USITATISSIMUM L) AND SAFFLOWER (CARTHAMUS-TINCTORIUS L) ON A SALINE SOIL HIGH IN SULFATE SALTS

Little information is available on the ion control mechanisms of safflower and flax under the sulfate-salinity conditions typical of the Canadian prairies region. Chemical constituents of Saffire safflower and Andro flax were investigated in the field to evaluate their response to soil salinity. Mean Ca:Mg and K:Na ratios of plant tops, yield, and seed oil-content were lower on saline soil than on nonsaline soil. On saline soil, the total cation content of flax tops decreased less rapidly with age than that of safflower, mainly due to high uptake of Na+ by flax. The pattern of ion regulation in safflower (high K:Na ratio) typifies a more ''tolerant'' response to salinity than that in flax.