Abstract

Aloe vera is a member of the lily family (Liliaceae), CAM plant with commercial value for its medical, nutritional and cosmetic uses. It requires limited irrigation depending on the humidity retention capacity of the soil. Damages of water shortage to plants in the world are wider compared to other tensions. Also salinity stress is a limiting factor of plant growth and yield, and becoming a serious problem in the world. In this trial, various levels of irrigation treatments used were field capacity, 40, 60 and 80% water depletion and salinity treatments included the control, 4, 8 and 12 dS/m, during two years’ studies. Results revealed that the drought and saline stress affected growth and chemical compounds in this plant. Increase of the drought and salinity declined the number of leaves, external leaf thickness, leaf volume, aerial fresh yield, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid amount. Enhancement of the drought and salinity increased the electric conductivity of gel and anthocyainin level in the leaves. There were no differences in the growth indices between 4 and 8 dS/m treatments. The negative effects on the plant were indicated at the 80% water depletion. Then the concentration of the 8 dS/m salinity and 60% water depletion suggestion caused plant resistance.