TOLERANCE OF BARLEY (HORDIUM VULGARE L.)  TO CHLORIDES OF SODIUM, CALCIUM  AND MAGNESIUM

I. Rajpar; M. Sultan; Zia-ul- hassan; N. Depar; M. A. Kharal

I. Rajpar Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (CBSA), Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan
M. Sultan Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (CBSA), Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan
Zia-ul- hassan Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (CBSA), Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan
N. Depar Soil Science Division, Nuclear Institute of Agriculture, Tandojam, Pakistan
M. A. Kharal Department of Soil Science, Bahauddin Zakarya University Multan, Pakistan

Keywords: Barlery, calcium, chlorides, sodium, magnesium

Abstract

The effect of five chloride salt compositions on the growth and yield of Hordium vulgare L. (cv. local) was compared in a pot experiment designed with three replications. Five chloride salt compositions included in the study were: T₁: Control (without salt); T₂: NaCl; T₃: MgCl₂; T₄: CaCl₂ and T₅: Equal concentration (40+40+40 mM) of NaCl: MgCl₂: CaCl₂. The concentration of each salt composition was 120 mM. The results obtained from the study indicated that the influence of 120 mM NaCl was more lethal to barley plants. Compared to other salt compositions, plants stressed with NaCl had higher concentration of Na⁺ and lower concentration of K⁺ both in straw and grains, which exhibited lower K⁺/Na⁺ ratio.