PERFORMANCE AND OSMOTIC REGULATION OF SORGHUM CULTIVARS IN SALINE SOILS
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Date
2016
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Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University
Abstract
The present study entitled “Performance and osmotic regulation of
sorghum cultivars in saline soils” was carried out in green house at Department
of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural College, Bapatla during
rabi 2015-2016 by using four saline soils of similar texture (collected from
Uppugunduru) having different ECe levels (1.5, 5, 8 and 12 dS m-1) and three
sorghum cultivars viz., Hytech, Laxmi and Mahalaxmi by following completely
randomized design with factorial concept with three replications.
During the experiment, soil samples were collected at 30 DAS, flowering
and harvest and were analyzed for physic-chemical properties, nutrient status,
microbial population and enzyme activity following prescribed procedures. Per
cent germination, plant height, days to flowering and maturity and yield were
estimated. Biochemical analysis of plants related to chlorophyll content, relative
water content (RWC), membrane injury (MI), proline, total sugars and ionic
ratios were estimated at 30 DAS, flowering and maturity following standard
procedures.
The levels of salinity, cultivars or their interaction did not influence the
pH of soil at all growth stages. The variation in EC (1:2.5 soil water system) was
maintained throughout the experiment with slight decrease in EC values. Higher
organic carbon, phosphorus, micronutrients and biological activity were observed
at lower salinity level of 1.5 dS m-1 compared to12 dS m-1. A significant effect
was not observed related to available nitrogen at any stage of plant growth,
whereas potassium was not influenced by cultivars and their interaction at
harvest. In general the cultivar, Hytech resulted in higher soil available nutrient
content and biological activity compared to Laxmi and Mahalaxmi.
The salinity levels, cultivars and their interaction significantly influenced
the per cent germination, plant height, number of days to flowering and maturity,
drymatter at flowering, yield attributes and yield (grain and stover). Considerable
reduction in germination per cent, plant height, yield attributes and yield was
observed at the maximum EC tested (12 dS m-1). The flowering and maturity
were delayed at maximum salinity in all the cultivars compared to the lowest
salinity of 1.5 dS m-1. The maximum grain (21.93 g pot-1) and stover (48.23 g
pot-1) yield was observed in treatment combination 1.5 dS m-1 x Hytech.
A significant influence of salinity levels, cultivars and their interaction
was observed on chlorophyll content, relative water content and membrane
injury. The cultivar Hytech recorded maximum values of total chlorophyll and
RWC at lower salinity and at flowering stage. The membrane injury was
minimum in Hytech cultivar at all stages and the extent of injury was more at
highest salinity of 12 dS m-1 in all the cultivars. Similar significant influence of
salinity levels, cultivars and their interaction was observed on all the osmolytes
(proline, sugars and ionic composition), which followed an increasing trend with
salinity at all stages of plant growth. The cultivar Hytech recorded maximum
proline at all stages of plant growth while, it contained maximum sugars at
flowering and intermediate values at other two stages. The Ca+2/Mg+2 ratio was
high at flowering and harvest, while the Na+/K+ was intermediate in Hytech.
Description
D5299
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