GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF GUAVA (PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L.) SEEDLINGS AGAINST SODIUM CHLORIDE SALINIZED WATER Department of Soil Science, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Pakistan

Abstract

The categorization of genotypes having varying potential to salt-tolerance is an efficient   approach to cope with the problems of saline soils and saline irrigation. A glasshouse experiment was carried out to evaluate the growth, development, and ions content in guava seedlings against sodium chloride salinized water. Sixty-day-old two commercial guava genotypes (Ramzani and Thadharamy) were irrigated with water of four salinity levels (control (distilled water), 1.5, 3.0 and 5.0 dS m^-1). The results indicate that increasing salinity levels negatively affected agronomic traits of both guava genotypes. A significant decline in height, stem girth, number of leaves plant^-1, dry weight of shoot and roots was noted at salinity level of 3.0 and 5.0 dS m^-1. Similarly, the seedlings grown under treatments of EC 1.5, 3.0 and 5.0 dS m^-1 had higher Na⁺ and Cl^- contents and less K⁺ and Ca²⁺ content in comparison to control treatment. The significant variation was recorded among the guava genotypes. Ramzani produced taller plants, thicker stem, more leaves plant^-1, greater shoot and root dry weights, and less Na⁺ and Cl^- contents in comparison to Thadharamy. We conclude that guava seedlings should not be irrigated with saline water having EC greater than 1.5 dS m^-1. Cultivation of Ramzani is a better choice in saline environment than Thadharamy.