This study was undertaken to examine the effects of NaCl and Na2SO4 salinity on the growth of carrot (Daucus carota L.) and the concentrations of essential and nonessential elements in the shoots and storage roots determined by polarized energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (PEDXRF). Both types of salinity reduced plant growth, but growth reduction in NaCl salinity was more pronounced. Na concentrations in shoots and roots were increased by salinity treatment. The concentration of Cl was also increased by NaCl salinity. Salinity treatments decreased K concentrations in the shoots and storage roots, and Ca concentrations in the shoots. Concentration of P in shoots and roots, and S, Mg, and Si in roots were not significantly affected by salinity treatments, while the NaCl salinity reduced S and Si and increased Mg concentrations in the shoots. Fe, Zn, Mn and Mo concentrations in the shoots were not significantly affected by salinity treatments. In the storage roots, the concentration of Fe was significantly increased by NaCl salinity, while Na2SO4 salinity significantly increased Zn and Mn concentrations in storage roots. Concentration of Al in the storage roots was significantly higher with NaCl treatment than with Na2SO4 treatment. Ni concentrations in the shoots were strongly increased by NaCl salinity, while concentrations of Br in the shoots and storage roots were significantly reduced by NaCl salinity. Rb concentrations in shoots and storage roots were significantly reduced by Na2SO4 salinity, but not by NaCl salinity. Concentration of Cs in the shoots was increased by both types of salinity, but Cs concentration of the roots was increased by Na2SO4. Concentration of Ba in the shoots was lowered by Na2SO4 treatment, while it was increased in the roots by Na2SO4 salinity. Salinity did not affect the Ce concentration in the shoots but increased it in the storage root, and NaCl salinity increased U concentration in the roots of the carrot plants. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.