Abstract: Identification of high yielding varieties of rice in saline soils is important in increasing its cultivated land area for production. The yield and leaf nutrient content of IR20, POKKALI, IR29 and NERICAI rice varieties were examined at different concentrations of sodium salts to assess their tolerance to soil salinity. Saline solutions of sodium chloride (NaCl) and sodium sulphate (Na2SO4) were used to irrigate the plants at concentrations of 0 (control), 5, 10 and 15 ds/m. Panicle length was decreased significant by NaCl solutions only in POKKALI and NERICA1 from 10 ds/m and above compared to the control while Na2SO4 did not significantly affect the parameter in all the varieties. Number of tillers/plant was also deceased by NaCl solution in all the varieties except NERICA1. A significant reduction was obtained in IR20 and IR29 from 10 ds/m and above, and at 15 ds/m in POKKALI. Na2SO4 however reduced the variable in IR20 and IR29 from 5 ds/m and above while POKKALI differed from 10 ds/m, but no significant difference was observed as compared to the control in NERICA1. There was also variation in the spikelets/plant among the varieties depending on the salt type and concentration. 100-Grain weight/plant reduced significantly only in IR20 at 15 dm/s under NaCl as well as in IR29 and NERICA1 at 15dm/s under Na2SO4. Grain length was not affected in any of the varieties by salt treatments. The flag leaf length was also not significantly affected by NaCl treatment but Na2SO4 solution at 15 ds/m caused significantly reduced values in all the varieties. There was accumulation of Na+ in the leaf of salt-treated plants with increasing concentration of salt in all the varieties. Leaf K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ generally decreased in plants exposed to salinity with variation among varieties depending on salt type and concentrations, except in IR29 with increased leaf Mg2+ as well as NERICA1 with higher leaf K+ and Mg2+ content under Na2SO4 treatment than in the control. There was variability among the varieties depending on salt type and concentrations in the response of the four rice varieties to salinity, but NaCl was more severe than Na2SO4.
Keywords: Oryza sativa, varieties, soil salinity, tolerance, yield.
Title: Leaf Nutrient Content and Yield of Rice Cultivars under Different Concentrations of Chloride and Sulphate Salts of Sodium
Author: Foluso Ologundudu, Otitoloju Kekere
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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