A note on salinity effects on germination, biomass and grain yield of some sorghum varieties (sorghum bicolor l. moench)
2009
El-Hagwa, A., Agricultural Research Corporation, Wad Medani (Sudan) | Richter, C., University of Kassel, Witzenhausen (Germany) | Kleeberg, A., University of Kassel, Witzenhausen (Germany)
The high accumulation of salts in soils of the Semi-Arid zones could be caused by any of the several factors (saline irrigation water, inadequate leaching, poor drainage, indigenous soil salts) may hinder germination, seedling and vegetative growth and the yield and quality of crops (Rhoades, 1990). In Irrigated Semi-Arid lands, salinity is a serious problem as it affects about one third of the total irrigated land of the world (Epstein et al. 1980). Reclamation, drainage or water control for the purpose of minimizing salinization is normal but costly practices. Recently, an alternative practice that has gained considerable importance is the breeding for salt tolerant crops (Epstein et al. 1980). Crop species differ widely in their tolerance to salts which give a wide potential for selection and breeding for enhanced salt tolerance (Mass.E.V; and G J .Hoffmann 1977) (Phills et al. 1979). Salinity affects plant at all stages of development, but sensitivity varies from one stage to the next. Sugar beet is known to be sensitive during germination, while barley, corn, cowpea, rice, sorghum and wheat are more sensitive during early seedling growth and then become increasingly tolerant during later stages of growth and development (Mass, E.V., 1986). Worldwide, the impact of soil salinity effects on sorghum grain yield has been assessed and it is well accepted that if the soil salinity surpasses a certain threshold level, crop growth, yield and quality are reduced (Mass, E.V; and G.J. Hoffmann, 1977) (Mass, E.V.; and Netondo, G.W., et al. 2004a). In the Sudan, secondary salinization resulting from accumulation of salty transported material as a consequence of wind erosion was reported for important areas of the Northern parts of the semi-arid region of Sudan, (Elhagwa et al. 2007). There is less information about the management of salt affected soils especially with regard to food crops. The objective of this study is to find indications of salt tolerance of six sorghum varieties to secure feasible and sustainable sorghum production under marginal salt-affected land via testing varietal differences in response to such conditions
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Agricultural Research Corporation