Effects of Salt Stress and Humic Acid Applications on Some Biochemical and Physiological Properties of Soybean (Glycine max L.) Plant
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v14i4.997-1005.8452Keywords:
Salt stress, Soybean (Glycine max L.),, Humic acid, Chlorophyll content , Electrolyte leakageAbstract
Crop productivity is negatively impacted by salinity, one of the primary abiotic stresses, reducing crop production. In this study, the impacts of salt stress (NaCl) on the development of soybean (Glycine max L.) plants and the potential of humic acid (HA) applications to mitigate these effects were investigated, focusing on plant growth, biochemical, and physiological parameters. Four different treatments were applied to the soybean plants (Control, Salt, Humic Acid, Humic Acid+Salt). Plant growth (fresh and dry weight, plant height), physiological (electrolyte leakage), and biochemical (total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b) content were examined. The research results showed that salt application significantly reduced plant height, biomass, and chlorophyll levels, while HA application led to significant increases in these parameters (P≤0.05). The HA application contributed to increased photosynthetic capacity and stress tolerance, particularly through its effect on chlorophyll pigments and root development. PCA, radar chart, and hierarchical clustering analyses determined that the HA application was statistically significantly distinct from the other treatments and created markedly positive effects on the plant's physiological and biochemical parameters. The findings indicate that HA is effective in increasing plant resilience by reducing developmental impairments in plants subjected to salt stress. In this context, HA is considered a promising application for sustainable production, especially in arid and semi-arid agricultural districts where salinity problems are widespread.
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