Current knowledge about Na₂SO₄ effects on plants: what is different in comparison to NaCl?

In some areas of the world, high levels of sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) are found in the soil together with sodium chloride (NaCl). However, most studies on salinity are performed utilizing only NaCl as a salinizing agent. Generally, plant species have different tolerance/susceptibility responses when grown in the presence of these salts. Some studies showed that Na₂SO₄ seems to be more inhibitory than NaCl for the growth of species such as barley, wheat, sugar cane, beet, tomato, wild potato, and others. However, studies focusing on how Na₂SO₄ can affect the biochemical and physiological processes of plants are very scarce. This review provides an overview on the effects of Na₂SO₄ on different crops and plants species with a special emphasis on the tolerance/non-tolerance mechanisms of the halophyte Prosopis strombulifera under elevated NaCl and Na₂SO₄. A better understanding of the tolerance mechanisms in this particular species will help to identify cultivars of crop species that are more tolerant to Na₂SO₄. This knowledge could be used to extent cultivation of certain crop plants on Na₂SO₄ containing soils.