The use of saline water in irrigated agriculture can cause nutritional imbalance and competitive inhibition in the absorption of nutrients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of salinity of irrigation water on the accumulation, the total absorption, and the distribution of mineral elements in maize plants. The study was conducted under field conditions in an Yellow Red Argisol in the dry season, in the randomized blocks design with five replicates during September to December 2007 in Fortaleza - CE. The maize plants were collected at 90 days after sowing, and the following assessments were made: content, extraction and distribution of mineral elements in the plant parts (leaf, stem, grain and elderberry). The increase of salinity of irrigation water at 90 days after sowing inhibited the accumulation of potassium in leaves, and corn stan and phosphorus in the grains. The extraction of nutrients and sodium by plants irrigated with saline water ranging from 0.8 to 3.6 dS m-1 had the following decreasing order: K > Mg > Ca > P > Na; the treatment of higher salinity (5.0 dS m-1) the sequence extraction was: K > Ca > Na > P > Mg.
salt stress; Zea mays; irrigation; minerals elements
