Nutrient Absorption in Three Iranian Pistachio Rootstocks Under Different Soil Temperatures

Climate changes over the past decade have caused significant problems for pistachio growers, particularly in the desert regions of Iran where water resources are becoming limited. In response, pistachio orchards are being established in marginal areas with lower temperatures, which can affect plant growth and nutrient uptake. This study aimed to evaluate the absorption of major nutrient elements in three Iranian pistachio rootstocks (‘Badami Zarand’, ‘Ghazvini’, and ‘Sarakhsi’) at different soil temperatures. The plants were grown in a growth chamber at temperatures of 10, 15, 20, and 25 °C for 15 days, and nutrient concentration and total nutrient content of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and sodium (Na) were measured in leaf, stem, and root tissues. The results showed that ‘Badami Zarand’ had a higher absorption of P at 10 and 15 °C compared to ‘Ghazvini’ and ‘Sarakhsi’, and leaf N in ‘Badami Zarand’ and ‘Ghazvini’ was also higher than ‘Sarakhsi’ (P < 0.01). Leaf K showed a significant decrease in ‘Badami Zarand’ and ‘Sarakhsi’ with increasing temperature, and N decreased from 10 to 25 °C (P < 0.01). Additionally, ‘Badami Zarand’ had higher nutrient uptake at lower temperatures and could be recommended as a more suitable rootstock for marginal areas with lower temperatures. These findings highlight the importance of considering soil temperature when selecting a suitable rootstock for pistachio cultivation.