This experiment examined how potassium humate affects the salinity tolerance of the groundcover plant Phyla nodiflora L., focusing on its morpho-physiological characteristics. A split-plot design was used for the greenhouse experiment, which included two factors arranged in randomized complete blocks with three replications. The main plot involved NaCl salinity at 5 different levels (0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 dS m-1), while the subplot consisted of three levels of potassium humate (0, 500, and 1000 mg L-1). The results showed that regardless of the fertilizer treatment, the shoot fresh weight and visual quality showed a significant decrease of 19.02% and 24.34%, respectively in the salinity treatment of 16 dS m-1 compared to the control plants. The Phyla plant had a relatively favorable state of plant pigments in the salinity treatment of 16 dS m-1, another positive feature for the plant during salt stress. In addition, the visual quality showed a strong and positive correlation with shoot length, shoot fresh and dry weight, and root fresh weight. Overall, the results showed that Phyla experienced reduced growth characteristics under salinity stress. While high salinity conditions may compromise visual quality, Phyla's vibrant green hue is preserved despite the stress. Based on the results of fresh and dry shoot and root weights, leaf relative water content (RWC), and visual quality, it is evident that Phyla plants thrive best up to a salinity level of 8 dS m-1. There is no need to utilize potassium humate treatment at this stress level. At salinity levels of 12 and 16 dS m-1, the morphophysiological characteristics of the Phyla decreased. As a result, at higher salinity levels such as 12 and 16 dS m-1, to improve the overall condition of the plant, the use of potassium humate is recommended. Therefore, the application of 500 mg L-1 of potassium humate enhanced the shoot length, lateral shoot number, and RWC at a salinity level of 16 dS m-1. Furthermore, the use of 1000 mg L-1 potassium humate led to enhanced plant pigments under a sodium chloride salinity treatment of 12 dS m-1.
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