Green Global
Foundation   Journal
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EFFECT OF SALINITY ON GERMINATION AND EARLY VEGETATIVE GROWTH OF COWPEA (Pages : 8 - 12)

The study was conducted in a laboratory at room temperature at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Rahmatpur, Barisal during 2006. Nine levels of NaCl concentrations were imposed on Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seeds to evaluate the germination and seedling vigor. The NaCl concentrations were equivalent to EC of 0.75 (control), 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 dS/m. The study was carried out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 replications. Germination and early growth of cowpea seed and seedling seriously hampered with higher salinity levels. More than 50% seed failed to germinate at 10 dS/m salinity and this salinity level may be considered as 50% lethal dose (LD50) for cowpea seed germination. Root and shoot length reduction increased and seedling vigor decreased with increased level of salinity. About 50% reductions of root and shoot length of cowpea occurred at 8 dS/m and it reached more than 80% at 10 dS/m salinity. Almost 100% root and shoot length reduction was observed at 12 dS/m and upward salinity. Download