Abstract:
Healthy seeds of Leucaena leucocephala grown in small pouches were transferred to earthenware pots containing loamy soil irrigated with Sea salt solutions of 0.02%. 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8% and 1.0% salinity , after 18 days of germination of seeds. Controls were irrigated with tap water only. Seedlings were irrigated with nitrogen free nutrient solution once a week of transplantation of seedlings into pots. Seedlings including control were inoculated with Rhizobium spp. and Glomus spp. Plants were harvested after 96 days of transplantation in pots. Root and shoot length, fresh and dry weights of roots and shoots, number, size, fresh and dry weights of nodules and percent tissue nitrogen showed a progressive decrease with increasing salinity levels. Root -shoot ratio showed a slight increase over control but the increase was statistically non-significant. Nodules were observed in all five salinity levels used in the experiment. In general, salt induced decrease in plant growth, biomass production and nitrogen fixing parameters. Results have been related to detrimental effects of salt on Rhizobium and AM populations in the pot soil.
Page(s):
33-40
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology, Volume: 14, Issue: 1, Year: 2017