Effect of Salinity on Germination, Early Seedling Growth, Na and K Constituents in Chikpea

Abstract

Salinity is a world-wide soil problem of great concern to agronomists. Effects of increasing sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations on germination, early seedling growth, Na and K contents in three varieties of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) were studied. Salinity markedly decreased germination, fresh weight, radicula and plumula length and K content. On the contrary, sodium (Na) content of chickpea seedlings was significantly increased by salinity.