Effects of salt and alkali stress on seedling growth and main nutritional quality of rapeseed and pea

Cultivating salt-alkali-tolerant crops is crucial for ensuring food security and utilizing marginal lands. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the physiological and nutritional responses of rapeseed and pea seedlings to saline and alkaline stresses to assess their potential for intercropping in affected areas. Using saline-alkali-tolerant rapeseed 'Huayouza 158R' and dwarf pea 'Zhongwan 11' as materials, the effects of different concentrations of salt (NaCl) and alkali (Na2CO3) stress on the growth and main nutritional quality of rapeseed and pea seedlings were studied. The results showed that both salt and alkali stress could inhibit the growth of rapeseed and pea seedlings, and the content of main nutrients, mainly reflected in the inhibition of the growth of the aerial parts and roots, the reduction of biomass accumulation, and the reduction of the content of vitamin C, soluble sugar, and soluble protein in leaves. By comparing the salt and alkali tolerance of rapeseed and pea, it was found that rapeseed has strong salt tolerance and relatively weak alkali tolerance, while pea has strong alkali tolerance and relatively weak salt tolerance. The results of this study provide theoretical support for the possibility of promoting the intercropping and mixed sowing of rapeseed and pea in saline-alkali land.