Response of maize (Zea mays L.) to sodium chloride concentrations at early growth stages - IJAAR

• Y. Abdellatif Idris*, Siddig A.M. Ali

• Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zalingei, Sudan

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of NaCl concentrations on seed germination and seedling growth of maize (Zea mays L.). Laboratory and pot experiments were conducted in 2014 using maize seeds obtained from Ministry of Agriculture Central Darfur State, Sudan. Ten seeds were germinated in Petri dishes containing filter paper of 9cm diameter, whereas in the pot experiment, five healthy seeds were allowed to germinate in plastic pots containing loamy soil.

Treatments comprised of control (distilled water), 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2% of sodium chloride (Na Cl). Treatments were arranged in completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 replications. Data recorded for the both experiments were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Least Significant Differences (LSD) method was used to test differences between treatments means at 5% and 1% probability levels. Results of the laboratory experiment showed that the number of germinated seeds was significantly affected by salinity level, especially by the higher salt concentration. Final germination percentage and seedling vigor index decreased with increasing salinity level. The highest seed germination percentage (97.5%) and seedling vigor index (2.49) were found with the control (0% NaCl) and the lower seed germination percentage (22.5) and seedling vigor index (0.05) were found with 2% concentration. Results indicated that the plumule length decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.01) as concentration of NaCl increased. The radical length followed the same trend of the plumule length, it was decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.01) as NaCl increased. Results of statistical analysis of pot experiments revealed that salinity made highly significant effects (p ≤ 0.01) for the investigated traits. It was observed that the highest seed germination percentage (95%), seedling vigor index (23.3), plumule length (24.7 cm), radical length (26.2 cm) plumule fresh and dry weights ( 1.95 & 0.24 g/plant ) and radical fresh and dry weights ( 1.66 &0.203 g/plant ) were observed in 0%NaCl (control). No seeds germinated in the 1% and above NaCl treatments.

Full Article Available at: Volume 6, Number 4, April 2015 – IJAAR
Published Journals: International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research (IJAAR)