Effect of Salts on Seed Germination of Some Desert Grasses

Abstract

Effect of five salt concentrations on the germination of eight grass species has been studied, in perti-dishes in the laboratory. Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Dichanthium annulatum and Chloris virgata showed germination of 50, 14 and 22 percent respectively in a solution of 13.6 g/lit. salt concentration. Permutaion and combination of the three types of salts in more than one ways would throw more light on the effect of individual salts and in combination. From this study it is clear that the above.three species are relatively better salt tolerant than other species studied. Dactyloetenium scandium and Cenchnu 8etigeru. are highly sensitive to saline media. Maximum percentage germination is recorded under the first treatment (1.7 g/lit) in Dactyloctemum aegyptium.