Effect of Saline Water on Growth Parameters of Five Citrus Root-stocks

Abstract

The pot culture experiment was carried out at the Experimental Station of Agriculture Science College at AI-Oha region to study the effect of NaCl + CaCl₂ (1: 1 by weight) on the growth parameters of 5 citrus root-stock seedlings, viz., Volkamer lemon (Citrus volkamcrialla), Macrophylla (Citrus macroplrylla), Sour orange (Citrus auralllium). Rough lemon (Cimls jamblriri) and Balady line (Citrus Quralllifo1ia). The relative growth rate (RGR) of Volkamer lemon, Balady lime and Sour orange root-stock reduced by 52.3, 39.7 and 17.2%, respectively, where as, RGRof Macrophylla and Rough lemon increased, when irrigated with 0.6% salt solution by 10.5% and 3.8%, respectively. as compared with control. These effects were not significant. Stem dry matter and diameter of five root-stock seedlings did not respond to saline water treatments, except a significant reduction in stem 'diameter of Volkamer lemon and Balady lime root-stock seedlings, when irrigated with 0.4% saline water. The leaf dry matter of Rough lemon, and Macrophylla seedlings significantly increased, whereas, leaf dry matter of Volkamer lemon and Balady lime reduced significantly. when irrigated with 0.6% saline water. Root dry matter of Rough lemon and Macrophylla rool-stock seedlings increased slightly, and that of Balady lime, Volkamer lemon and Sour orange, decreased with 0.6% saline water irrigation. The leaf area of Dalady lime and Rough lemon root-stock seedlings did not show any significant reduction. It was observed that Rough lemon was more resistant to high salinity in irrigation water.